The FBI has provided an update on a development in the ongoing search for Travis Decker, the father accused of killing his three daughters after their bodies were discovered.
Travis Decker is the prime suspect in the deaths of Olivia, five, Evelyn, eight, and Paityn, nine, following his failure to return them to their mother’s residence after a scheduled visit in late May.
The girls’ bodies were found on June 2 at the Rock Island Campground in Leavenworth, while Decker was missing.
Since then, authorities in Washington have been on the lookout for Decker. On August 29, the FBI revealed they had conducted an extensive search covering 250 acres around the campground.
“We not only accomplished our goal of covering the entire area intended for this operation, but we also searched beyond the primary search perimeter. The electronic mapping of this search effort is being provided to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office and our federal partners,” the FBI announced.
Initially, the agency reported finding bones during the search, but it was unclear if they were animal or human.
In a fresh update on September 3, W. Mike Herrington, special agent in charge of the FBI Seattle field office, shared new details about the findings.
He stated: “On August 25 and 26, FBI Seattle and partners participated in a two-day grid search operation within the vicinity of the Rock Island Campground near Leavenworth, Washington.
“During the search, personnel recovered multiple bones, including those that required additional examination to determine if they were animal or human. Central Washington University has reviewed the bones and assessed that they are not human.”
Herrington acknowledged that investigators ‘do not anticipate further updates related to this specific search’, but assured that the investigation remains active.
“This extensive search was just one step in a three-month process by a variety of agencies to locate Travis Decker, discover signs of his whereabouts, or find any other evidence of the murder of his three daughters,” Herrington said.
“In two days, the search team cleared almost 250 acres by carefully covering rough terrain on foot, and further efforts can build on the knowledge we gained through the electronic mapping of the area.
“FBI Seattle is committed to our continued collaboration with the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, the U.S. Marshals Service, the U.S. Forest Service, and other partners to locate Decker and are committed to bringing every available FBI resource that will advance this case for as long as it takes.”
Herrington mentioned that any developments in the case will be communicated ‘as soon as [investigators] are able’.
The US Marshals Service has announced a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Decker’s arrest, but the public is reminded that he is ‘considered armed and dangerous’.
“If you see Travis Decker, please call 911 immediately and do not attempt to contact or approach him,” the FBI advises.
Anyone with information about Decker’s location is encouraged to contact the nearest US Marshals office, the US Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips at usmarshals.gov/tips.