Police have delivered a discouraging update concerning the hunt for Travis Decker.
Decker is being sought in relation to the deaths of his three daughters: Olivia, five, Evelyn, eight, and Paityn, nine.
He picked up his daughters on May 30 from his ex-wife’s residence as part of a scheduled visitation.
However, Decker did not bring the girls back, and that outing was the last time their mother, Whitney Decker, saw them.
Whitney reported them missing, and soon after, it was tragically confirmed that the bodies of Olivia, Evelyn, and Paityn were discovered at the Rock Island Campground in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Their father was not found at the scene and has been evading capture since then.
The suspected cause of the girls’ deaths is asphyxiation, and Decker faces charges of three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
Despite being on the run since the deaths, efforts to locate the 32-year-old have led to a nationwide search. However, all attempts by police have yet to yield results.
Recently, police updated the public regarding the search efforts, indicating a scale-back.
On Friday (July 25), it was disclosed that while the search for Decker is ongoing, law enforcement will reduce their presence while the investigation continues, as reported by ABC News.
The decision follows a decrease in leads and tips about Decker’s location, yet detectives remain ‘actively engaged in processing evidence and will continue to follow up’ on any new information that arises.
There is uncertainty about Decker’s status, with Washington authorities stating: “As of today [July 25], Mr. Decker has still not been located, and there is insufficient information to suggest that he is alive, nor if he is deceased,” according to PEOPLE.
The most recent search operation was conducted in the Blewett Pass area of the Wenatchee Mountains. However, officials found the ‘potential evidence and intelligence gathered in this area are inconclusive, meaning we cannot confirm any of the information is directly associated with Mr. Decker’.
Despite the challenges, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison emphasized the dedication to finding Decker.
“We could be in a fight for five years, 10 years, 20 years. I certainly hope we’re looking at a couple weeks and it closes out, but it could be a long time and we are committed to staying with it,” Morrison said to ABC News.
The US Marshals Service is offering a $20,000 reward for information that directly leads to Decker’s arrest.
Anyone who sees the fugitive father-of-three is advised to contact 911 immediately.