Remains believed to be Travis Decker found three months after murder of three young daughters
The search for Army veteran Travis Decker, who was wanted for the murder of his three young daughters near a campsite in rural Washington, has come to a tragic end. Human remains believed to be those of Decker were discovered in the Icicle River drainage after a three-month search. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office is awaiting confirmation from the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab for official identification.
The bodies of Decker’s daughters – Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia – were found with plastic bags over their heads and zip ties around their wrists near Decker’s truck on June 2. Preliminary investigations suggest that the sisters likely died from asphyxiation. Whitney Decker, the girls’ mother, mentioned that Travis was quieter than usual when he picked them up for a visitation, which was out of character for him.
The couple had divorced a few years ago, and after a custody hearing, Travis’ access to his children was limited to alternate weekends due to his deteriorating mental health. Whitney’s lawyer, Arianna Cozart, stated that Travis had received little help after leaving the Army Rangers and seeking emergency services for veterans.
New court documents revealed that Decker had searched online for ways to relocate to Canada and find a job there before he disappeared with his daughters. The girls’ remains were found near the Pacific Crest Trail, leading to Canada, indicating that Decker may have been trying to flee the country.
Decker, who had attended mountain survival school and had experience living off the grid for extended periods, was believed to be hiding in the wilderness using his military skills. Remote areas in Washington were closed as multiple agencies continued the manhunt, offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
Whitney Decker is advocating for a change in Washington’s Amber Alert system, believing that it could have made a difference in finding her daughters alive. She believes that the decision not to issue an AMBER Alert immediately after reporting the children missing was crucial.
The tragic end to the search for Travis Decker has left a community in mourning and raised questions about mental health support for veterans and the effectiveness of alert systems in cases of child abduction. The authorities continue to investigate the case to bring closure to the family and ensure justice is served.
