It’s been a month since tragedy struck in Washington’s Wenatchee Valley, and the search for Travis Decker—the father accused of killing his three young daughters—continues to grip the region.
The case began on May 30, when Decker failed to return 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia to their mother’s home in Wenatchee after a scheduled visitation. Four days later, deputies discovered Decker’s abandoned white pickup truck on Icicle Road near Leavenworth. Just 50 yards away, they found the bodies of all three girls. An autopsy later revealed they had been suffocated.
Decker, a 32-year-old former Army soldier, has been charged with aggravated murder and kidnapping, but he’s been on the run ever since. Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison called the manhunt “one of the largest, most complex search and rescue efforts we’ve ever seen in our county.”
The search has spanned across Idaho, Montana, and even into Canada. Law enforcement agencies from around the country—including the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Border Patrol, and the National Guard—have joined forces to track down leads. Despite deploying drones, helicopters, cadaver dogs, and search teams along rugged trails like the Pacific Crest, Decker remains elusive.
Authorities aren’t ruling out any possibilities. Morrison acknowledged there’s a chance Decker may have died in the wilderness, whether by accident or suicide. “We recognize there’s a probability he’s deceased, but there’s still a very real chance he’s alive, and possibly still in the area,” he said.
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On June 10, a hiking group reported seeing a lone man near Colchuck Lake who seemed to be avoiding contact with others and ran from a helicopter overhead. Deputies followed tracks to Ingalls Creek but came up empty-handed. It’s still unclear if the man was Decker. Other reported sightings have also led nowhere, and items stolen from nearby cabins were tested for Decker’s DNA with no matches found.
At the crime scene, investigators confirmed that blood found on the tailgate of Decker’s truck and other samples matched his DNA. While Decker may have suffered an injury, authorities say there’s nothing to indicate he was seriously hurt. His dog was found unharmed near the campsite and is now in the care of a humane society.
As summer tourists head to Chelan County to hike and camp, the sheriff’s office urges visitors to stay alert. Decker is considered dangerous, and anyone who sees him should call 911 immediately rather than approach.
“We haven’t given up,” Morrison said. “We’re doing everything we can to bring closure to the family, to give a voice to Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia—and to see Travis Decker face justice in a courtroom.”
