Chelan County Sheriff’s Office deputies have released doorbell camera footage and photos of Travis Decker, 32, who is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping. The videos and photos are from the days leading up to his visitation with his three daughters, showcasing his last known appearance. Police say newly obtained information revealed Decker is ‘well versed in wilderness survival and capable of spending days or even weeks in the wilderness on his own and with very little equipment.’
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison told reporters that while there is more confirmation that Decker might have attended Mountain Survival School, he has been an outdoorsman since he was a child. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities working closely with other agencies to locate Decker’s associates and determine his next moves. ‘As we take an ‘all hands’ approach to investigating the murder of three young girls, the team morale remains elevated as we work toward locating Travis Decker,’ authorities stated. ‘Additionally, more teams are being deployed to different sites Mr. Decker was known to frequent in the area.’
Police emphasize that although the search for Decker is challenging, they are well-prepared to apprehend him. The U.S. Marshals Pacific Northwest Violent Offender Task Force is collaborating with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, and a reward of up to $20,000 is available for information leading to his arrest. The suspect is not known to be armed at this time, but is considered dangerous. The three girls, aged five, eight, and nine, went to see their father on Friday, May 30, for a planned visitation, and their bodies were later found near Decker’s abandoned pickup truck on Monday afternoon.
Authorities were alerted to the girls’ disappearance by the mother, who reported that Decker picked the girls up around 5 p.m. on Friday but did not return them by 8 p.m., with his phone going straight to voicemail. A detective expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and is currently experiencing mental health issues. ‘What prompted her to call us was that … he was late returning the girls and had not communicated to her that he was going to be late, which was his typical fashion and so this was out of the ordinary,’ said Capt. Brian Chance.
Preliminary findings suggest the girls, whose wrists were zip-tied, died from asphyxiation. Sheriff Morrison reiterated his demand for Decker to turn himself in. ‘Travis, if you’re out there seeing us, we’d like you to turn yourself in,’ Morrison said at a press conference. ‘We want a peaceful resolution to this, but we’re not going to relinquish our efforts and giving up any effort that we could proceed to track you down. So please turn yourself in. Let’s wrap this up and do what’s right for your kids.’