Law enforcement has released new details in the ongoing search for Travis Decker, who is facing charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping following the discovery of his three daughters’ bodies.
Decker has been missing for a month, with police providing regular updates on the extensive search for the missing father of three.
The search intensified after Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney, sounded the alarm and reported her children missing on May 30. Her daughters, Olivia, five, Evelyn, eight, and Paityn, nine, did not return home from a scheduled and court-ordered visit with their father.
Decker was supposed to bring his daughters back to their home in Wenatchee, Washington State, but failed to do so.
Authorities later confirmed the heartbreaking news on June 2 that all three young girls had been found deceased at Rock Island Campground, approximately 40 miles from their home.
The bodies were discovered close to their father’s white 2017 GMC Sierra truck. As a result, Decker has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, according to the Wenatchee Police Department.
Over a month later, Decker remains missing, and police continue to search the area for him.
In the most recent update, on Tuesday (July 1), the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office announced that blood found on Decker’s truck is a match for his DNA.
“The lab took DNA samples from those items and found they matched the DNA in the blood samples recovered at the scene,” stated a press release.
“We know, positively, that all of the DNA samples recovered belong to the same male subject, who we believe is Mr. Decker.
“With this evidence, along with the other items found at the scene, we do not have any reason to believe there are any other suspects.”
The press release also mentioned that Decker’s wallet and cellphone were located at the scene.
On June 24, the police shared a new theory about Decker’s potential whereabouts.
The Kittitas County Sheriff’s office posted on Facebook that Decker is suspected of killing his three daughters and then disappearing into the forest near the Rock Island campground in Chelan County.
The statement read: “At this time, there is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area. Seemingly strong early leads gave way to less convincing proofs over the last two weeks of searching…
“Some search resources are being redirected to find and recover Decker if he died in the rugged wilderness during this intense search—a possibility that increases every day. Visible extra patrols continue in the area. The US Marshals service has turned their fugitive-finding resources to the task of finding Decker if he’s left our area.”
Despite this new theory, law enforcement has assured the public that they are committed to continuing the search.
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