Following a two-day search, the FBI has provided an update regarding its ongoing investigation into Travis Decker.
In June, the tragic deaths of Travis Decker’s daughters occurred at a campsite in Leavenworth, Washington.
The children, Olivia (5), Evelyn (8), and Paityn (9), had been collected by their father from their mother’s residence on May 30 for a planned visit.
Concern arose for their mother, Whitney Decker, when the children were not returned home as scheduled.
Subsequently, she reported her daughters as missing, and a few days later, the bodies of Olivia, Evelyn, and Paityn were discovered at Rock Island Campground.
Investigations revealed the girls likely succumbed to asphyxiation, leading to their father being charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping.
Despite these charges, Travis remains elusive and has been evading capture for nearly three months, with his current status unknown.
As part of their efforts, the FBI has joined the investigation to determine the alleged murderer’s location, conducting a recent two-day search around the site where the girls’ bodies were found.
ABC News reports that over 100 personnel were involved in the operation, which covered an area of 1,000,000 square meters, commencing on Monday (August 25).
Mike Herrington, the special agent in charge of the FBI Seattle field office, stated the search aimed to ‘locate Travis Decker, uncover evidence of his whereabouts, or find any other clues related to the murder of his three daughters’.
The search has reportedly yielded ‘several items’ that are currently under examination.
“Final results will take some time,” Herrington cautioned at a press conference, as reported by KOMO. He further noted, “Finding this potential evidence highlights the importance of having various teams conduct multiple searches of an area, especially under challenging conditions.”
The specific nature of these ‘items’ remains undisclosed.
FBI officials commented on the scope of the search: “A search of this magnitude and detail has not previously taken place in this area.”
“We not only met our objectives of covering the entire intended area for this operation, but we also extended our search beyond the primary perimeter.”
The FBI has affirmed its dedication to utilizing every available resource to advance this case, regardless of the duration it may require.
Despite the FBI’s involvement, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office continues to lead the investigation.
In light of Decker’s continued evasion, a reward of $20,000 is being offered for information leading directly to his capture.