LEAVENWORTH, WA- A months-long search for Travis Decker, a Washington man suspected of murdering his three young daughters, took a chilling turn recently when authorities uncovered possible human bones during the search for Decker, Fox News Digital reports.
On June 2, Decker’s three daughters — Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5 — failed to return from a visitation with their father.
The discovery, a culmination of a two-day sweep of campgrounds near Leavenworth involving over 100 Seattle-based FBI agents along with local law enforcement, ended last Tuesday and was the first significant development in the case in months.
The children’s bodies were found near Rock Island Campground along Icicle Creek with bags over their heads. Autopsies showed the children died from suffocation, and their deaths were ruled homicides.
An initial assessment was unable to determine if the skeletal remains were human, so the items were sent to Central Washington University’s anthropology department for forensic evaluations to determine if they are connected to the search for Decker, Fox 13 reported.
Decker, a military veteran with advanced survival training, has managed to evade authorities despite an extensive dragnet.
‘Search personnel recovered several items that are being examined to determine if they are related to this investigation,” the FBI told Fox 13. “Final results will take some time.”
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said that if the evidence requires further investigation, law enforcement will “respond accordingly.” It is currently unknown whether Decker is alive or dead.
Morrison addressed the discovery of the potential remains and stated that factors such as wildlife activity and environmental exposure could impact the recovery of a complete skeleton, Fox 13 reported.
‘We recognize that the potential is it’s not going to be a full skeleton,” Morrison said. “If we were to find one, there’s going to be bits and pieces, because wildlife does spread remains around.”
Thus far, law enforcement authorities have combed 247 acres in three major sweeps, the Fox outlet reported.
Morrison told the outlet that additional campground and trail closures will likely follow as investigators expand their search.
Authorities plan another large-scale search, coordinated with federal assets, in September.
Fox News Digital reached out to the FBI’s Seattle office and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, neither of which responded to a request for comment.
Decker did not have custody of the girls and was allowed visitation, authorities said. It was during one of those visitations that he murdered his three young daughters.
His ex-wife, Whitney Decker, said the couple had a court-ordered parenting plan.
She said he had never failed to return the girls before, however, she said he has mental health issues, including borderline personality disorder, Fox News Digital previously reported.
Decker was homeless and split time between motels and campgrounds, an arrest warrant affidavit said.
Authorities said each girl was found with a plastic bag over their head and “their wrists were also zip-tied or showed signs of being zip-tied.
Morrison said investigators have not been able to ascertain a motive for the horrific killings. Authorities currently hold arrest warrants for three counts each of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping.
Authorities warned the public not to approach Decker if he is still alive, but rather to call the police.
While it is unknown if he is armed, he should be considered dangerous. There is a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.
