Authorities in Washington state are intensifying their search for Travis Decker, a military-trained survivalist accused of murdering his three daughters, as the possibility that he may no longer be alive in the remote wilderness has emerged. Decker, 32, is suspected of killing his daughters—Paityn, 8, Evelyn, 7, and Olivia, 5—after their bodies were found near his abandoned vehicle in a remote campground. While there is no definitive evidence that Decker is still alive, law enforcement sources have expressed concern that the likelihood of this possibility increases with each passing day.
The search effort continues under the lead of the U.S. Marshals Service, with local agencies, the FBI, and other law enforcement entities joining the hunt. A cadaver dog has been deployed this week to aid in the search, as authorities remain focused on recovering Decker if he died in the rugged wilderness. This comes after the girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, spoke publicly about the loss of her children for the first time last week, emphasizing the importance of remembering the girls’ lives. Decker was homeless and alternating between living out of his car and at nearby campsites, raising concerns about his mental health and survival skills in the wilderness.
Authorities have also issued an updated flyer depicting possible ways Decker may have altered his appearance while on the run, including renderings showing him wearing a baseball cap and without facial hair. The search began over three weeks ago after the girls’ mother called the police when he failed to return the daughters from a court-mandated visitation. Three days later, the girls’ bodies were discovered with plastic bags over their heads and their hands bound at Rock Island Campground, according to police. Decker has been charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping, with a $20,000 reward offered for any information leading to his arrest.
Despite the high-profile nature of the case, law enforcement has emphasized that Decker should be considered armed and dangerous but has stated there is no reason to believe he is a threat to public safety. The search effort has mobilized a range of law enforcement agencies, including the Washington National Guard, Border Patrol, FBI, U.S. Forest Service, Homeland Security Investigations, and National Parks. Morrison, representing the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, has expressed determination to ensure Decker is brought to justice, stating that failure to do so would mean the voices of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia would be silenced.