Federal and local authorities are converging on campgrounds in Washington where Travis Decker is believed to have killed his three young daughters. This search comes nearly three months after Decker’s father vanished.
About 100 specialists from the FBI and local agencies are conducting extensive grid searches on Monday and Tuesday in the vicinity of Rock Island Campground, as stated by the FBI’s Seattle office and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.
The bodies of 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia were discovered on June 2nd, showing signs of suffocation. They were found bound with zip ties near the Leavenworth campsite, not far from Decker’s abandoned vehicle.
Access to the Rock Island campsites, along with some local roads and trails, will be restricted until Wednesday as search teams comb a quarter-mile radius around the crime scene.
Currently, there’s no definitive evidence indicating whether Decker is alive or deceased, according to Peter Orth, a senior supervisory resident of the FBI Seattle Field Office. The area has already been searched, but officials with expertise in grid searches, along with dogs and electronic devices, are now tackling tougher, densely populated regions with limited cell service.
Officials expressed concern that the natural terrain might have compromised evidence due to erosion.
“The girls don’t want us to give up,” said Chelan County Sheriff Michael Morrison. “We understand this may take years, but we’re committed. If you see us in uniform, it means we’re here for the long haul.”
Morrison reassured that the search is prioritized and won’t be rushed, even if more time is needed around Labor Day weekend.
“This case is essential for the FBI. It’s a beautiful area where a violent crime occurred,” noted Orth. “Our goal is to seek justice for Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia, and to provide answers to their family and community.”
Decker is accused of killing his daughters shortly after picking them up for a planned visit on May 30th.
The girls were reported missing when Decker, a former U.S. Army member and skilled wilderness survivalist, failed to return by the scheduled time.
Their mother, Whitney Decker, expressed her fears about her daughters’ safety when Travis didn’t come back at the court-mandated time. “She knew something was wrong the moment he didn’t return by 8 AM,” said Whitney’s attorney, Ariana Cozart.
Three days later, the sisters were found at the campsite, with a plastic bag overhead and zip ties around their wrists.
Decker’s vehicle was located nearby, showing two bloody handprints on the tailgate.
Authorities also discovered Decker’s dog, which was found unharmed and later placed in the care of the Humane Society.
The investigation later determined that the girls had died due to suffocation.
