Human remains believed to be Travis Decker have been discovered after a lengthy search for the Army veteran who was wanted for the murder of his three young daughters near a campsite in rural Washington. The likely body of the National Guardsman was found in the Icicle River drainage, following earlier warnings that he should be considered dangerous and could be anywhere in the nation.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison stated that they are awaiting further confirmation of the identity of the remains, but initial indications suggest that they match the clothing Decker was last seen wearing. Official identification will be made by the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab.
The bodies of Decker’s three daughters – Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 – were found with plastic bags over their heads and zip ties around their wrists near Decker’s truck on June 2, three days after he took them for a planned visitation from their home in Wenatchee. Preliminary investigations suggest that the girls likely died from asphyxiation.
According to reports, Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney, informed detectives that he was quieter than usual when he picked up the girls, which was out of character for him. The couple had divorced a few years ago, and although the separation was civil, Decker’s mental health had deteriorated in the past two years. This led to his reduced access to his children after a custody hearing several months ago.
Whitney Decker’s lawyer, Arianna Cozart, mentioned that Decker had received minimal assistance after leaving active duty with the US Army Rangers and seeking emergency services for veterans. She emphasized that Decker loved his daughters and was a loving, active father, but his mental health struggles were not adequately addressed.
New court documents revealed that Decker had searched online for ways to relocate to Canada and find jobs there, indicating a possible intention to flee. The girls’ remains were found close to the Pacific Crest Trail, which leads to Canada, leading authorities to believe that Decker was attempting to evade prosecution.
Decker, who previously attended mountain survival school, had the skills to survive in the wilderness for extended periods. His father informed detectives that Decker would often live off-grid for months at a time, indicating his ability to survive in remote areas.
Whitney Decker is now advocating for changes to Washington’s Amber Alert system, believing that an alert could have helped locate her daughters sooner. She feels that the decision not to issue an Amber Alert in the critical hours after reporting her children missing made a significant impact on the outcome of the case.
As the investigation continues, authorities have closed off remote areas in Washington, where Decker was believed to be hiding. A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to Decker’s arrest, as law enforcement agencies work to bring closure to this tragic case.
