LEAVENWORTH, Wash. (RTW News) — Investigators in Washington State have reported finding remains they believe belong to Travis Decker, a former soldier sought for the alleged murder of his three daughters. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Thursday that the discovery was made in the mountains, and that forensic teams are currently engaged in the analysis, including DNA testing.
Decker, 32, has been wanted since June 2, when deputies first uncovered his vehicle along with the tragic scene of his three daughters — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 — found dead at a campground outside Leavenworth. Prior to this discovery, he failed to return the girls to their mother in Wenatchee, just days earlier.
A veteran of the military, Decker served as an infantryman from March 2013 until July 2021. Authorities noted his skills in navigation and survival, which could explain his ability to elude capture for several months. His disappearance spurred a massive search operation involving more than 100 officials combing hundreds of square miles of mountainous terrain with terrestrial, aerial, and water-based strategies.
The tragic circumstances surrounding the girls' deaths revealed that they suffered suffocation, as determined by an autopsy report. Authorities discovered they had been bound and suffocated with plastic bags over their heads. Following the incident, Decker's ex-wife had expressed concerns over his mental health state and instability in a petition to modify their parenting plan, asserting his homelessness and erratic behavior.
As the investigation unfolds, the community eagerly awaits confirmation of the identity of the remains and hopes for answers regarding this heartbreaking case.
