Left: Travis Decker (Chelan County Sheriff”s Office). Right: (from left to right) Evelyn, Paityn, and Olivia Decker (Facebook).
Authorities in Washington state suspect they have located the remains of Travis Decker, identified as the “sole suspect” in the killings of his three young daughters.
According to a press release issued on Thursday by the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, human remains have been discovered in a forested area near Leavenworth. These remains are believed to be those of 32-year-old Travis Decker. This announcement follows months of searching for Decker, initiated after the bodies of his daughters — 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia — were found dead.
Although the remains’ identity hasn’t been officially confirmed, police noted that “preliminary findings suggest the remains belong to Travis Decker.” A coordinated search involving the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Spokane County Sheriff’s Office, Washington State Patrol, U.S. Border Patrol, the U.S. Forest Service, and the FBI led to the discovery earlier this week.
Last month, authorities reported that DNA evidence from the crime scene pointed exclusively to Decker as the suspect in the children’s murders. All three girls were found with plastic bags over their heads and their wrists zip-tied.
The search for Decker commenced on May 30 when he failed to return the daughters to his ex-wife after a planned visitation. Their bodies were located days later, prompting a manhunt across multiple counties and states. Decker, a former military member, was known for survivalist skills and reportedly searched online for routes to Canada prior to the visitation.
The death of the girls was attributed to suffocation, and their deaths were classified as homicides. Decker faced charges for three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping related to the deaths of his daughters.
Police said they will continue to process the scene where the remains were found. Pending the confirmation of the identity of the remains, police have asked for “continued privacy and respect for the family,” who have been notified of the find.
