The authorities in Washington released alarming new facts in the Travis Decker case, in which the fugitive father allegedly murdered his three little girls and disappeared into the woods.
Decker, a 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran, vanished May 30 during a court-sanctioned visit with his daughters Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5. When he didn’t return the girls to their mother, Whitney Decker, that night in Wenatchee, alarm quickly turned into panic. Whitney alerted authorities at about 9:30 p.m., and a frantic three-day search ensued.
On June 2, the three girls were found dead close to Decker’s abandoned pickup truck at Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. Decker himself was nowhere to be seen, triggering what has been one of the largest manhunts in the region in years.
In accordance with a recently published update from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, the investigators discovered each of the girls with plastic bags pulled over her head. There were two bags on two of the sisters, and one had three bags. The authorities also found zip ties lying nearby. The medical examiner determined that all three of them died from asphyxiation, and the cause of death was confirmed to be homicide.
DNA testing has made the case against Decker more solid. Officials claim his DNA was on each of the plastic bags as well as at least one of the zip ties. His profile matched blood found on the tailgate of his truck, according to investigators. “The culmination of this DNA analysis gives further evidence that points to Travis Decker as being the lone suspect responsible for committing these murders,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Even with the overwhelming evidence, Decker is still on the loose almost three months later. An experienced outdoorsman and military veteran, police think he could be living in the woods or may have entered Canada. Decker made Internet searches regarding moving to Canada prior to the killings, affidavits say.
There were reported sightings – one on June 10 in Washington along Highway 97 and one on July 5 in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest – but they were later proven to be false. At this point, law enforcement has no evidence of whether Decker is dead or alive.
The U.S. Marshals Service has provided a $20,000 reward for tips that lead to his capture. In the meantime, the devastating murders of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia linger in their minds as they wait for justice to catch up.
Leo Cruz brings sharp insights into the world of politics, offering balanced reporting and analysis on the latest policies, elections, and global political events. With years of experience covering campaigns and interviewing world leaders, Leo ensures readers are always informed and engaged.
