Alleged killer dad could make ‘one mistake' that ends manhunt, sheriff says
Authorities believe they are closing in on the father accused of killing his three daughters and escaping into the Washington wilderness as local police assure the public they are ramping up their urgent search for the triple-homicide suspect.
"You will see a change in our tactics as we proceed forward," Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said in a news conference Wednesday. "All we need is one mistake and one day to go in our favor and he's going to be in our custody."
The comments come after the U.S. Marshals Service deployed its Rapidly Advancing Manhunt (RAM) program as authorities search for Travis Decker, an experienced survivalist and former member of the military accused of killing his three daughters, Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5.
"I want to start off just [by] making sure that we're remembering why we're here," Morrison said. "That's for Payton, Evelyn and Olivia."
Morrison encouraged the public to stay vigilant as authorities search for Decker throughout the Ingalls Creek area, with officials warning he is believed to be armed and dangerous.
"If you're out there and you notice that you have a vacation home out there or campsite, you want to keep track of your supplies [in] your cabins," Morrison said. "If you do have things that are missing — even if it's minor items — this could be a way that he could continue his path out there."
Earlier this week, authorities announced new leads in the manhunt – which began on June 2 – after a group of hikers reported seeing a lone individual who appeared unprepared for the wilderness and looked to be avoiding others.
In response to the tip, authorities "spotted a lone, off-trail hiker from a helicopter near Colchuck Lake who ran from sight as the helicopter passed," CCSO said in a press release Tuesday.
The wooded area authorities have zeroed in on is located roughly 30 miles from Rock Island Campground, where the three girls' bodies were found after Decker failed to return the children to their mother following a court-approved visit.
Authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for any information leading to Decker's arrest. If convicted, Decker could face the possibility of life in prison without parole.
"We will not stop," U.S. Marshals Service Chief Jerome Brown said. "He just has to make one mistake like the sheriff said. We will find him. He will be brought to justice so the community can heal."
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
WA residents on alert as manhunt for Travis Decker stretches into Kittitas County
The Brief Authorities are searching for Travis Decker, the man accused of murdering his three young daughters, in Washington's Chelan and Kittitas counties. Residents are urged to stay vigilant and report any sightings, as law enforcement uses helicopters and infrared cameras in the search. The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office emphasizes community involvement and continues to ask for public tips to locate Decker. Cle Elum, wash. - The Chelan County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that the sheriff in Kittitas County has been helping in the hunt for Travis Decker. There were concerns that he may have made it to the nearby Teanaway Trail area. In the meantime, law enforcement in both counties are asking residents to be on the lookout for the triple-murder suspect. Local perspective The Gardineer girls just got out of school for summer break. It should be a time for playing with their pup Olive, feeding chickens Ginger and Shelly, and hiking local trails. "It's like a pretty wooded area around here," said Phoenix Gardineer, who lives in the search area. However, many of their plans are now canceled. "I feel like we can't go on hikes anymore," said Panthra Gardineer, who lives in the search area. Because the girls and their grandma live near Ingalls Creek, they are right in the middle of the expanded search area for Travis Decker. "We are locking doors," said Phoenix. "A lot of helicopters the first day, back and forth, up and down the river, and up and down the highway," said Anitria Nicol, who lives in the search area. The Washington State Patrol has joined in the search from the sky. Spokesperson Chris Loftis says WSP has provided more than 23 flight hours of requested air support, using two Cessnas equipped with high-powered infrared cameras. "It's going to take a group effort and the community to bring this to a conclusion," said Sheriff Mike Morrison, Chelan County Sheriff. Part of that effort has involved asking residents in the family's area to be on the lookout. "We are continuing to reach out and talk to different residents throughout Valley High and the Ingalls Creek area, to see if they have any cameras mounted to their house," said Morrison. The family will be doing their part by potentially using the camera that watches over their flock of chickens, to keep an eagle eye out for Decker. "We have a trail cam, with our chickens," said Phoenix. "I feel like he's not going to come around people with guns and barking dogs for the most part," said Anitria Nicol. For now, rather than hiking in the woods, Panthra says her new summer break hobby is taking pictures of the helicopters and planes as they continue their search. "It's like straight over our house. I look out the window and I just see the plane right out the window and I'm like, 'Wow, it's super low'," said Panthra. Here is Thursday's statement from the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office: "Kittitas County Sheriff's deputies and tactical team members are maintaining elevated presence in the area near the active manhunt for Travis Decker, the man suspected of killing his three young daughters in the Icicle Creek area of Chelan County. This includes visible patrols, backcountry teams, and drones, all operating day and night. We're focused on safeguarding our community and having the right resources in place to detect and apprehend Decker if he comes to our county. The best chance for a swift and successful end to this search is intelligence that comes from the public. As people head into the wilderness in and around the Teanaway valley and Blewett Pass this weekend, we ask the public to be vigilant and alert to anything unusual. If you see Travis Decker call 911 immediately. If you learn anything that might indicate his presence or whereabouts in our county, promptly call Kittcom at 509-925-8534. Thank you to everyone who has offered information so far and to everyone who will! Thanks also to the Ellensburg Police Department for dedicating its members of the Kittitas County Tactical Response Team to this critical mission." The Source Information in this story came from the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, Chelan County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews. Seattle traffic to be impacted from upcoming protests Authorities shift tactics in search for WA triple murder suspect Travis Decker Manhunt for Travis Decker moves to WA's Kittitas County Anti-Trump 'NO KINGS' protests planned for Seattle this weekend Seattle police disperse 'ICE OUT' protesters after fire breaks out downtown Everything you need to know about Seattle Pride Parade 2025 Things to do for Father's Day in Seattle To get the best local news, weather and sports in Seattle for free, sign up for the daily FOX Seattle Newsletter. Download the free FOX LOCAL app for mobile in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store for live Seattle news, top stories, weather updates and more local and national news.
Yahoo
14 hours ago
- Yahoo
'Keep the pressure on': Sheriff searches for Travis Decker with SWAT
It's been nearly two weeks since Travis Decker picked up his three young daughters for a custodial visit and they disappeared into the night. In a mountainous area in the central part of Washington, some of the ground still peppered with snow, the manhunt continued for Decker, a 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran wanted in connection to the brutal slayings of the sisters found dead after vanishing on May 30. "We're going to keep the pressure on," Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison told USA TODAY the afternoon of June 12 as he prepared to board a helicopter to help in the search. The children's mother, Whitney Decker, reported the girls missing on May 30 after the siblings left their central Washington home for a planned visit for their father, the Wenatchee Police Department reported. Wenatchee is in Chelan County, about 148 miles east of Seattle. Officials found the bodies of Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8 and Olivia Decker, 5, on June 2, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, the lead agency on the triple murder case, reported. Court papers show a deputy found the sisters with plastic bags over their head and evidence their hands had been zip tied. A medical examiner, officials reported on June 9, ruled all three deaths a homicide. Their father was homeless and living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup at the time they vanished, according to police. Police said he is a former military member with extensive training who "may pose a significant risk, if approached." Court filings obtained by USA TODAY show Travis Decker reportedly exhibited mental health issues prior to the girls' deaths. On Tuesday, June 10, the sheriff's office announced the hunt for Decker had narrowed after officials received a tip about a lone hiker near the Colchuck Lake in the Enchantments. The hiker appeared to be unprepared to be on the trail and seemed to avoid others. Upon responding to the tip, trackers spotted a lone hiker off trail who ran out of sight as soon as a helicopter passed, the agency deployed police dogs to the area and said they tracked the man to the area of the Ingalls Creek Trailhead on U.S. Route 97. As of Thursday, June 12, the sheriff confirmed, he remains on the run. The rugged, mountainous area is roughly 15 miles southwest of the city of Leavenworth, a Bavarian-style village popular among tourists and hikers. It's also about the same distance on foot from Rock Island Campground, where the bodies of Decker's daughters were found. Last week in Idaho, the McCall Police Department reported it received reports about a possible sighting of Decker in the western part of the Gem State. The small resort town of McCall is about 450 miles southwest of where the search for Decker is currently focused. Morrison told USA TODAY his office and law enforcement in Idaho had deemed the reports to not be credible. Decker update: Search for Travis Decker narrows near Washington mountains Police described Travis Decker as a white man with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5'8'' and weighing 190 pounds. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts. Police could not say whether he was armed while on the run. Anyone who sees the suspect or with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911. Tipsters can also call the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845 or submit your information online at Contributing: Anthony Robledo Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travis Decker manhunt continues in Washington
USA Today
15 hours ago
- USA Today
'Keep the pressure on': Sheriff searches for Travis Decker with SWAT
'Keep the pressure on': Sheriff searches for Travis Decker with SWAT Show Caption Hide Caption Manhunt for Travis Decker intensifies Authorities warn that Travis Decker, who is accused of kidnapping and killing his daughters, may be capable of surviving off the grid for months. Fox - Seattle It's been nearly two weeks since Travis Decker picked up his three young daughters for a custodial visit and they disappeared into the night. In a mountainous area in the central part of Washington, some of the ground still peppered with snow, the manhunt continued for Decker, a 32-year-old U.S. Army veteran wanted in connection to the brutal slayings of the sisters found dead after vanishing on May 30. "We're going to keep the pressure on," Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison told USA TODAY the afternoon of June 12 as he prepared to board a helicopter to help in the search. The children's mother, Whitney Decker, reported the girls missing on May 30 after the siblings left their central Washington home for a planned visit for their father, the Wenatchee Police Department reported. Wenatchee is in Chelan County, about 148 miles east of Seattle. Officials found the bodies of Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8 and Olivia Decker, 5, on June 2, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, the lead agency on the triple murder case, reported. Court papers show a deputy found the sisters with plastic bags over their head and evidence their hands had been zip tied. A medical examiner, officials reported on June 9, ruled all three deaths a homicide. Their father was homeless and living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup at the time they vanished, according to police. Police said he is a former military member with extensive training who "may pose a significant risk, if approached." Court filings obtained by USA TODAY show Travis Decker reportedly exhibited mental health issues prior to the girls' deaths. Latest on Travis Decker manhunt On Tuesday, June 10, the sheriff's office announced the hunt for Decker had narrowed after officials received a tip about a lone hiker near the Colchuck Lake in the Enchantments. The hiker appeared to be unprepared to be on the trail and seemed to avoid others. Upon responding to the tip, trackers spotted a lone hiker off trail who ran out of sight as soon as a helicopter passed, the agency deployed police dogs to the area and said they tracked the man to the area of the Ingalls Creek Trailhead on U.S. Route 97. As of Thursday, June 12, the sheriff confirmed, he remains on the run. The rugged, mountainous area is roughly 15 miles southwest of the city of Leavenworth, a Bavarian-style village popular among tourists and hikers. It's also about the same distance on foot from Rock Island Campground, where the bodies of Decker's daughters were found. Last week in Idaho, the McCall Police Department reported it received reports about a possible sighting of Decker in the western part of the Gem State. The small resort town of McCall is about 450 miles southwest of where the search for Decker is currently focused. Morrison told USA TODAY his office and law enforcement in Idaho had deemed the reports to not be credible. Decker update: Search for Travis Decker narrows near Washington mountains What does Travis Decker look like? Police described Travis Decker as a white man with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5'8'' and weighing 190 pounds. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts. Police could not say whether he was armed while on the run. Anyone who sees the suspect or with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911. Tipsters can also call the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845 or submit your information online at Contributing: Anthony Robledo Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@ and follow her on X @nataliealund.
