The body of a man believed to be Travis Decker was discovered following a three-month search. He was a military veteran accused of wanting to harm three young girls at a campsite in rural Washington.
A national security warning had been issued, indicating that he was considered dangerous and could be anywhere in the country.
“We expect more confirmation tomorrow,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison stated, noting the conditions appeared to match what was known about his last sighting.
Authorities will rely on the Washington State Patrol Crime Institute for official identification.
The bodies of Decker’s three daughters—Peitin, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—were found on June 2. Olivia was discovered with a plastic bag and zip ties around her wrists near Decker’s truck, just three days after he took her from their home in Wenatchee during a scheduled visit.
Preliminary investigations suggest the sisters likely died from asphyxiation.
According to the mother, Whitney, Decker exhibited unusual quietness when picking the children up, which raised some alarm among detectives.
The couple had been divorced for a few years, and although Decker had access to the children, there were growing concerns about his mental health and stability, leading to reduced access after a recent custody hearing.
“He’s a broken human. Anyone who could do something so horrific has lost their way,” Whitney remarked.
She also expressed that had the veteran support system and mental health resources been adequately funded, her daughters might still be alive, emphasizing that Decker loved his children.
Interestingly, Decker had searched the internet for “How to move to Canada” and “Jobs Canada,” indicating he may have intended to leave the country.
Continuing the Search for Travis Decker
He also visited Canada’s job search website shortly before his disappearance. The children’s remains were found just 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, which leads into Canada, raising suspicions that Decker was trying to flee from charges against him.
Authorities believed he was hiding out in the Washington wilderness, utilizing survival skills from his military training, as noted in a recent police press conference.
Many remote areas in the state have been sealed off as a search is underway, with law enforcement offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to Decker’s arrest.
Police have released footage showing Decker shortly before his daughter’s death.
His father informed detectives that Decker had attended Mountain Survival School and had a history of living outdoors for extended periods. “Sometimes he just goes off the grid, possibly for months at a time,” he said, indicating Decker had prepared supplies in known areas.
Whitney Decker is advocating for changes to Washington’s Amber Alert System.
“It means a lot to her,” said Cosart, her lawyer during a lengthy custody battle. Whitney believes that had the Amber Alert been issued promptly, lives could have been saved after the initial report of the children being missing.
