The U.S. Marshals task force has called off its pursuit of Travis Decker, a suspected murderer, in Idaho after receiving a tip about a sighting nearly 500 miles from where his children were discovered dead.
Authorities initiated a search in the Sawtooth National Forest in central Idaho after a family reported seeing a man who resembled Decker and was “exhibiting odd behavior” on an ATV trail over the Fourth of July weekend.
The U.S. Marshals received a tip on July 5 from a family claiming to have encountered someone fitting Decker’s description in the forest’s Bear Creek area. This area lies southeast of Stanley and north of Fairfield.
The family said they saw a white male with tattoos, who appeared to stand between 5 feet, 8 inches to 5 feet, 10 inches tall. He had a ponytail and overgrown beard, while wearing a black mesh cap, a cream shirt, black gauge earrings, either “Converse or Vans low top shoes,” FOX 13 reports
U.S. Marshals Service Supervisory Deputy Michael Leigh confirmed Wednesday that authorities found the man, who turned out to be a cooperative hiker.
“Investigators interviewed the cooperative man and confirmed he was hiking in the Bear Creek area this past weekend,” Leigh said, adding that the area search had ended, according to AP News.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, the Wenatchee Police Department said officers then discovered 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker dead near the Rock Island Campground on June 2.
Police suspect that Decker killed them during a planned visitation and then fled. Search teams continue to comb through wilderness in search of Decker, but can’t confirm yet whether he’s alive or whether he left the area.
AP News reports that the U.S. Marshals Service is actively pursuing Decker and also considering the possibility that he may have left the region. Extra patrols have been put in place to support the search efforts.
“Due to safety concerns, do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,” police previously said of Decker, who has extensive military training.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845, or submit information online at https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/sheriff/forms/submit-a-tip.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo via Whitney Decker/Facebook]
