The manhunt continues for Travis Decker, the father accused of murdering his three young daughters near a campground in Washington, with authorities having now released new images they hope will assist in the search.
Tragic reports emerged last week after the bodies of Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were discovered near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. The bodies of the three girls found each with plastic bags over their heads and wrists zip-tied, according to disturbing court documents. On the tailgate of Decker’s truck were what appeared to be two bloody handprints.
Decker, meanwhile, was nowhere to be found.
The father-of-three — charged with one count of kidnapping and three counts of first-degree murder – is now the subject of an intense search, with authorities of the hope that the public may assist in helping to locate him.
It’s believed Decker may be using his military training to stay hidden, with other reports speculating that he may have even scoped out a hiding hole in advance of committing the atrocity. The 32-year-old served in Afghanistan in 2014, later transferring to the Washington National Guard.
Sheriff Morrison said Decker’s father told investigators that Travis had previously lived off the grid for as long as two and a half months at a time. He’s described as someone capable of “surviving for long periods of time in the wilderness.”
“We understand that at times, he would do caching,” Morrison said previously. “So we understand that’s a possibility — that he could have scoped out this area before, put some supplies out there, and has the ability and knowledge to survive.”
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO) is now working with the FBI, Department of Homeland Security, and U.S. Marshals to track down Decker.
A $20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to his arrest.
On Saturday, June 7, the CCSO released a wanted poster on Facebook that features multiple new photos, and a few previously released images, of the murder suspect, including some that highlight his tattoos and wardrobe.
The photos show Decker with his hair pulled back and tattoos on his arm and ankles.
He is described as 5’8 with black hair and brown eyes, while the CCSO warned that he is “dangerous” and “may be armed.”
Last Wednesday (June 4), local police in McCall, Idaho, investigated a reported sighting of Travis, though authorities later confirmed it wasn’t him.
Officials are asking the public to be cautious about what they report. Only first-person sightings should be sent to 911.
“Dispatch should only be notified of first-person sightings, not rumors, texts, or online chatter,” the McCall Police Department explained.
Whitney Decker, mother to Decker’s now-deceased children, reported concerns to police on the night of their disappearance. She told officials that Travis had picked up the children around 5 p.m. Friday for a scheduled visit, but never returned them.
Her fears grew when her ex-husband didn’t answer his phone, which instead went straight to voicemail. She added that Travis had recently been struggling with mental health issues and was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder towards the end of their marriage.
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