The FBI announced on Wednesday that the remains discovered during a recent search for escaped fugitive Travis Decker are not human. This was revealed after an extensive grid search at a Washington campground last week.
Authorities conducted a two-day search from August 25-26 to find bones linked to Decker, who is wanted for the murders of his three young daughters. The analysis indicated that the bones were of animal rather than human origin, according to W. Mike Herrington, a special agent with the FBI’s Seattle Field Office.
“During the search, our team collected several bones, which required further examination to determine their origins,” Herrington stated. “Central Washington University assessed the bones and confirmed they were not from a human.”
The 250-acre search at Rock Island Campground, located near Leavenworth, did not directly lead to Decker, but it provided investigators with useful information.
“We don’t anticipate any further updates from this specific search, but the investigation is ongoing,” Herrington noted.
This search is part of a larger three-month effort involving multiple agencies aimed at locating Travis Decker and gathering evidence related to the tragic deaths of his daughters.
A spokesperson for the FBI’s Seattle office mentioned in an email that, as of Thursday, there is no evidence suggesting whether Decker is alive or deceased.
Travis Decker, a veteran with survival skills, has been eluding authorities for over three months. The search for him began on June 2, after he failed to return his daughters—nine-year-old Evelyn, eight-year-old Olivia, and five-year-old children—to their mother following a scheduled visit.
One of the children’s bodies was discovered near the Rock Island Campground with a bag over her head. An autopsy later confirmed that the cause of death was choking, leading to a ruling of murder.
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $20,000 for information leading to Decker’s arrest. Authorities caution that he should be regarded as armed and dangerous.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and Wenatchee Police Department have not provided immediate comments regarding the ongoing situation.
