Human remains discovered this week in a remote wooded area south of Leavenworth are believed to belong to Travis Decker, the 32-year-old father accused of murdering his three young daughters, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.
The multi-agency search located the remains in heavily forested terrain, though positive identification awaits DNA analysis. Preliminary findings suggest the remains may be those of Decker, who had been the subject of an extensive manhunt since June.
“The Sheriff’s Office is currently processing the scene with the assistance of the WSP crime scene response team, to be followed up with DNA analysis,” the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office stated. Officials have contacted the Decker family to provide support and updates while requesting continued privacy during the investigation.
Decker became the focus of a massive search after the bodies of his daughters, 5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 9-year-old Paityn, were discovered at Rock Island Campground near Leavenworth on June 2. The girls had been reported missing May 30 when Decker failed to return them to their mother following court-ordered visitation.
The Chelan County medical examiner determined the children died by suffocation in what was ruled a triple homicide. Investigators found the girls’ bodies 75 to 100 yards from Decker’s abandoned vehicle, with zip ties and plastic bags scattered throughout the area. Each child had been restrained with zip ties and had plastic bags placed over their heads.
Forensic evidence linked Decker to the crime scene through DNA analysis. A bloody fingerprint on his truck’s tailgate matched DNA samples from items believed to belong to Decker, with the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab confirming the match on July 15.
Decker faced three counts of murder and kidnapping in state court, while federal prosecutors charged him with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. Court documents revealed that Decker had researched relocating to Canada in the days before the killings, searching online for information about moving across the border and finding employment there.
The search for Decker involved dozens of agencies, hundreds of personnel, and thousands of hours across multiple counties. The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office coordinated much of the multi-jurisdictional effort.
Decker served as an Army infantryman from March 2013 to July 2021, including a four-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2014. His military background raised concerns about his survival skills and ability to evade capture in wilderness areas.
The discovery potentially concludes one of Washington’s most intensive manhunts in recent years, though final identification through DNA testing will provide definitive confirmation.
