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Authorities in Washington believe they have located the remains of Travis Decker, the man accused of killing his three daughters earlier this year and sparking a months-long manhunt across the region.
The Chelan County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday that human remains were discovered in a wooded area south of Leavenworth, not far from where the girls' bodies were found in June. "While positive identification has not yet been confirmed, preliminary findings suggest the remains belong to Travis Decker," the sheriff's office said in a statement. Officials confirmed that DNA testing is underway.
Decker, 32, had been wanted on charges including three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping following the deaths of his daughters — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5. The girls were reported missing on May 30 after Decker failed to return them to their mother, Whitney Decker, following a court-ordered custody visit.
Three days later, their bodies were discovered at a remote campsite near Rock Island Campground in the Washington Cascades. Authorities said the girls died by asphyxiation and were found with plastic bags over their heads, along with zip ties scattered nearby. According to investigators, DNA taken from the bags and ties matched Decker's profile. His truck, abandoned near the site, carried a bloody fingerprint, and his dog was also recovered in the area.
The shocking case triggered an intensive search involving local, state, and federal agencies. Officials deployed drones, cadaver dogs, and specialized teams to navigate the mountainous terrain. A $20,000 reward had been offered by the U.S. Marshals Service for information leading to Decker's capture.
Decker, an Army veteran with survival training, was believed to have fled into the wilderness on foot. Sheriff Mike Morrison noted after speaking to Decker's family, "It sounds like at times he would go out and would be off grid for sometimes up to two and a half months." Authorities also revealed that Decker had searched online about relocating to Canada, fuelling speculation he might have crossed the border.
The girls' mother, Whitney, who divorced Decker in 2022, spoke publicly at a memorial service in June, where she reflected on the time she shared with her daughters, described their kind and loving nature, and expressed hope that their memory would continue to live on in the hearts of others.
The sheriff's office confirmed it has been in contact with the Decker family, requesting privacy as the investigation continues.
