On Monday, the FBI launched a two-day search through dense and rugged terrain in Washington state in the hopes of finding clues to the whereabouts of Travis Decker nearly three months after he allegedly killed his three young daughters. About 100 FBI agents joined other law enforcement officers in the search, highlighting the gravity of the case and the commitment to resolving it.
Decker, a former and trained military survivalist, has been wanted since June 2, when the bodies of his three daughters – Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 – were discovered at the Rock Island Campground in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. The search for Decker is ongoing, and authorities have emphasized the need for thoroughness, given the challenging environment.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison and Peter Orth, the FBI’s supervisory senior resident agent in Yakima, noted during a news conference that investigators still have no evidence about whether Decker is alive or dead. Orth emphasized the complexity of the search, stating that the dense vegetation makes it possible for someone to walk off the trail without being noticed.
Authorities have closed popular campgrounds and trailheads in the forest near Leavenworth to facilitate the search, allowing about 100 FBI agents and other law enforcement officers to bushwhack through the rugged terrain. Divers planned to search Icicle Creek to reach areas where logjams had previously barred dive teams, while other investigators conducted a grid search in a quarter-mile radius around the campground.
With the trail growing colder, Morrison expressed his frustration, saying, ‘I’m still angry.’ He believes that if Decker is still alive in the wilderness, he must be ‘pretty tired by now.’ Morrison also mentioned that if Decker is not captured, he believes that ‘it’ll be another Chelan County Sheriff’ who will have to take over the search, underscoring the determination of the authorities.
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Decker’s capture. Authorities confirmed last week that Decker is the sole suspect in the alleged murders, saying that his DNA was found at the crime scene. No additional DNA profiles were detected, leaving the investigation in a critical state as they continue their search for any remaining evidence.
The search, while intense, is also a reminder of the ongoing challenges faced by law enforcement in the wilderness and the determination of the community to find justice for the three young girls. The case has captured national attention and brought into focus the complexities of such searches and the emotional toll they take on both the families and the authorities involved.