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SINISTER clues have been revealed in the manhunt for the dad accused of murdering his three young daughters.
Travis Decker, 32, is believed to still be alive and on the loose as the search for him nears four weeks long, according to police.
Decker has been on the run since allegedly suffocating his daughters to death during a scheduled custody visit on May 30.
Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were discovered at a campsite in Washington state with bags over their heads and their wrists bound with zip ties, three days after their mother reported them missing.
Law enforcement has persistently scoured the difficult Washington landscape for weeks, employing both ground and aerial searches, as authorities cautioned that Decker could endure in the wilderness for an extended period due to his military background and survival expertise.
Currently, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison is reaffirming his conviction that Decker remains at large, despite growing theories that he may have taken his own life following the alleged murders.
“At this point, unless we find him deceased, I’m going to consider him alive,” Morrison told NBC affiliate KING-TV in a sit-down interview.
The sheriff said authorities are responding as though Decker is still out there due to recent leads, including one from last week where a group of hikers saw a man walking alone.
Potential sightings have been reported in parts of Washington, Idaho, Canada, and even as far as Texas, Morrison said.
Tips from the public have also led cops to abandoned equipment and supplies, including a backpack that was recently found empty with only a rock inside.
Morrison said that he doesn’t believe the backpack belonged to Decker because so many hikers leave gear behind, but cops are still investigating as they’re leaving no stone unturned.
The sheriff said law enforcement officers are also looking into recent reports of break-ins and eggs being stolen out of chicken coops.
However, he denied that there were any cases that he could confirm were linked to Decker.
“One call we just got was that chicken coop got eggs taken out of it,” Morrison explained.
“So of course they’re wondering, hey who would have come in and taken our eggs?”
“So we want to follow up on that too because we understand that could be a food source for somebody.”
Timeline of the missing Decker girls
Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were found dead at a campground after they were last seen on a custody visit to their dad.
Below is a timeline of events:
Monday, May 26
Travis Decker searches online for “how does a person move to Canada,” a Canadian job website, and “how does a person move to Canada.”
Thursday, May 29
Decker’s cell activity shows that he drove to and from the Rock Island Campground.
Friday, May 30
5 pm – The three girls are picked up from their mom’s house by their dad.
8 pm – Decker is supposed to return the girls but doesn’t. Their mom’s calls to him go straight to voicemail.
9:45 pm – Whitney Decker calls the Wenatchee Police Department to report her daughters missing.
Decker’s truck is seen driving westbound on Highway 2.
Washington State Patrol is contacted for an Amber Alert but said the situation didn’t match their criteria.
Saturday, May 31
WPD issues an Endangered Missing Persons Alert.
Monday, June 2
3:45 pm – Decker’s truck is found empty with bloody adult-sized hand prints at Rock Island Campground.
5 pm – Cops search the area and find the bodies of the three girls.
Tuesday, June 3
9:30 am – WPD notifies the public that they are still searching for Decker.
2 pm – WPD tells the public that the three girls were found dead and that Decker is still on the loose.
Friday, June 6
The girls’ autopsy report confirms that they died by suffocation.
Sunday, June 8
6 pm – Chelan County Sheriff’s Office hands the search for Decker to the federal authorities.
RAIDED CHICKEN COOPS
On June 17, a homeowner posted on social media that a trespasser was stealing eggs out of their chicken coops in Yakima, Washington.
“Beware some people are raiding chicken coops,” the Facebook user warned in a group dedicated to raising backyard chickens.
“For 2 days in a row someone has stolen chicken eggs an feed from my chicken coop. I have a self feeder that they took most of the food from also took all the eggs but 1 chicken hid 2 of her eggs and that was all I found.
“I usually get close to a dozen eggs every day from them till now so I have had to take measures to catch whoever they are. So keep an eye on your chickens.”
She added that the thief wore all black and didn’t show up on her security cameras.
It’s unclear if the incident is related to the search for Decker.
Yakima is over 100 miles away from Rock Island Campground, where the Decker girls were found.
HORRIFIC CRIME SCENE
Cops found “a large amount of evidence” from Decker’s truck, which was left at the campsite with bloody adult-sized handprints on the tailgate.
They collected human male blood and nonhuman blood at the scene.
I certainly feel like he’s done a disservice to himself and he’s just done an evil act and I want him to come forward and take accountability for it.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison
Decker’s dog was also recovered and given to an animal shelter.
Morrison told the public to contact police with any information about Decker’s whereabouts.
Anyone who sees Decker is warned to stay away from him as he’s considered dangerous and potentially armed.
UNCLEAR MOTIVATION
The sheriff said he isn’t sure what Decker’s motivation or plan is, but that he hopes to capture him alive to bring him to justice.
“I couldn’t see a lot of things that would motivate him to want to live,” Morrison told KING-TV.
“His daughters are gone. He no longer has the life that he wants to have.”
“At this point, if he’s trying to push and evade us, we’re not sure why.”
He added, “I could tell him, I don’t think anyone likes him. I don’t think anyone wants him to come back into society.
“I certainly feel like he’s done a disservice to himself and he’s just done an evil act and I want him to come forward and take accountability for it.”
Morrison said earlier this week that anyone who sympathizes with Decker, a homeless veteran with PTSD, is not helping the investigation.
“There’s some that may be sympathetic to his cause, which I think would be misguided,” Morrison told NewsNation.
“I mean, he’s accused of murder, not just once, but three times, and he is a danger. So, for those that might have sympathy towards him, please allow the opportunity for us to do our job.”
Latest update from CCSO
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office released the following update in the search for Travis Decker, along with new pictures of how the suspect could have potentially altered his appearance, on June 17:
Investigators continue to process crime scene evidence while search teams remain engaged on the ground and from the air.
CCSO Detectives continue their in-depth investigation by continuing to gather information from both new sources, and reviewing lab results from evidence gathered on the scene. At the same time, CCSO, Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office (KCSO), The WA Army National Guard (WA ANG) and the US Marshals Service are conducting collaborative search efforts to locate Mr. Decker.
As of today, we and our law enforcement partners continue a concerted effort into the triple homicide investigation and search for the suspect, Travis Decker. Personnel are deployed throughout the region and backcountry areas of Chelan and Kittitas Counties following up on leads and searching for signs of Mr. Decker. While search operations continue around the clock, CCSO Detectives are further developing the criminal case, conducting follow up interviews, processing evidence, and reviewing data and analysis from evidentiary items sent to the crime lab for processing.
KCSO has been placing numerous resources on the ground and in the air. CCSO is very thankful for their assistance, especially given their experience with searching for suspects in the woods, which they are currently deploying for this case.
Service Members of the WA ANG continue to be a vital resource to the search as they have continued aerial surveillance, provided more air assets, and conducted personnel movements for the ground search teams. They are a critical component in getting personnel into remote areas for tracking and searching. Along with the WA ANG, CCSO’s Air Support Unit (ASU) has also remained engaged, flying the search areas while providing more eyes in the sky and assisting with coordination of the ground search teams. CCSO Search and Rescue (SAR) personnel are deployed for the search as well. Their vast experience, training, and expertise within our remote areas is an incredibly valuable asset to the operation.
The US Marshals Service has been another vital component of this investigation, more particular with the search for Mr. Decker. They are conducting in depth investigations, interviews, assessments, and deploying specialized personnel while assuming the lead role in the search for Mr. Decker. CCSO will maintain a primary focus on the criminal investigation and continue to supplement the Marshal’s Service when needed.
During all of these simultaneous operations, the day-to-day law enforcement operations continue here at CCSO. Our Patrol Supervisors and Deputies have done an incredible job at maintaining the needs and safety of our citizens despite the heavy toll this case has taken on our personnel, resources, and communities. They continue to allocate resources and personnel to ensure shifts are staffed while we enter our busy season, ensuring our neighborhoods, roadways, and waterway remain safe for all to enjoy. The personnel of RIVERCOM, our local dispatch center, have also been instrumental in this investigation and have shown great resilience in their ability to take on the influx of calls we are receiving at the onset of our busy season.
Our Office was notified of a TikTok video that was released which portrays Sheriff Morrison and claims Mr. Decker has been taken into custody after a long standoff. To be clear, Mr. Decker is not in custody and CCSO had no part in making the video.
At this time, we do not have any additional information that would suggest there is a threat to public safety, particularly within the back country and remote areas of our region. To our knowledge, all trails and recreation sites managed by the US Forest Service remain open to the public. However, we still encourage everyone who is outside recreating to remain vigilant and report any suspicious information to law enforcement.
Here at CCSO we are extremely grateful for all of the men and women of the law enforcement agencies who have, have been, and currently are, participating in this investigation. The combined team effort is what gives the greatest opportunity in bringing this case to a close.
The United States Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading directly to Travis DECKER’s arrest. The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.
If you see Travis Decker, please call 911 immediately and do not attempt to contact or approach him. Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.
Source: CCSO
