Police have unveiled new evidence in their ongoing search for Travis Decker, who faces charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping after the discovery of his three daughters’ bodies.
It has been a month since the last sighting of Decker, as authorities continue to release updates in their efforts to locate the father of three.
A massive search was initiated after Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney, reported her children missing on May 30. Olivia, five, Evelyn, eight, and Paityn, nine, did not return home from a scheduled court-ordered visit with their father.
Decker was expected to bring the girls back to their home in Wenatchee, Washington State, but he failed to appear.
Authorities later confirmed the heartbreaking discovery that all three little girls were found deceased at Rock Island Campground, approximately 40 miles from their home, on June 2.
The bodies of the girls were discovered near their father’s white 2017 GMC Sierra truck, and Decker has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, as per the Wenatchee Police Department.
Decker remains on the run over a month later, with police continuing to search for him in the area.
In the latest update, on Tuesday (July 1), the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that the blood found on Decker’s truck matches his DNA.
“The lab took DNA samples from those items and found they matched the DNA in the blood samples recovered at the scene,” a press release states.
“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 evidentiary items found at the scene, we do not have any reason to believe there are any other suspects.”
The press release also mentions that Decker’s wallet and cellphone were found at the scene.
On June 24, law enforcement proposed a new theory regarding Decker’s potential whereabouts.
The Kittitas County Sheriff’s office shared on Facebook that Decker is believed to have killed his three daughters and ‘disappeared into the forest around 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 theory, police have reassured the public that officers ‘won’t quit’ their search.
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