Hunt for Father Accused of Killing 3 Daughters Expands in Washington Forest
The National Guard is joining the search in Washington State for a man the police say killed his three young daughters.
More than a hundred law enforcement officers are combing parts of central and northern Washington State for the man, Travis Decker, who the police say has wilderness skills that could help him survive for weeks on his own.
The police say Mr. Decker kidnapped the three girls — Olivia Decker, 5; Evelyn, 8; and Paityn, 9 — on May 30. They were found dead on Monday near a campsite roughly 70 miles east of Seattle. Each child had a plastic bag over her head, according to an affidavit from the police in Wenatchee, Wash., where the girls lived with their mother.
Large swaths of wilderness around where the girls' bodies were found have been closed to the public as the manhunt has intensified. The U.S. Forest Service closed some trails, roads and campsites in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. On Thursday, the National Park Service closed parts of the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area, a part of the North Cascades National Park Service Complex to the north of the national forest.
On Friday, Gov. Bob Ferguson pledged to support the investigation by sending National Guard resources and emergency funding.
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Miami Herald
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Washington state manhunt for suspected child killer expands with National Guard
National Guard assets are being deployed in Washington state to expand the search for a man accused of killing his three young daughters, Gov. Bob Ferguson, D-Wash., confirmed Saturday. 'I am tapping emergency funds and ordering Washington National Guard resources to support the search for Travis Decker, who is suspected of killing his three daughters. At the request of the Chelan County Sheriff's Office, we will be providing helicopter transportation for law enforcement as they search in remote areas,' Ferguson wrote on X. Authorities consider Decker a 'significant risk' after his daughters aged 9, 8 and 5 were found dead at a campground about 130 miles east of Seattle Monday. 'As a parent, my heart goes out to Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia's mom, Whitney, and all those who love them. The brutal murder of these young children has shocked our state. I'm committed to supporting law enforcement as they seek justice for Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia,' Ferguson wrote on X. 'I want to remind Washingtonians to be aware of safety directives from law enforcement as the search continues. If you live in the area, keep your doors and windows locked. Avoid closed areas, which currently include the Enchantments and the Icicle River area. If you see Travis Decker, do not approach -- call 911. Anyone with information should contact [the] Chelan County Sheriff's Office.' Federal, state and local officials have been searching for the military veteran in Eastern Washington since the children were discovered. Their mother first reported them missing after they failed to return from a scheduled court-ordered visit on Monday. Officials believe Decker, who is homeless and has extensive military training, could now be on or near the extensive Pacific Crest Trail. The 2,650-mile route stretches along the Pacific Coast from Canada to Mexico, passing through Washington state and Oregon. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Decker's capture. He is described as 5-foot-8 with black hair and brown eyes. 'Dozens more law enforcement professionals, both tactical and administrative, have converged on Chelan County and joined the investigation and the search for Travis Decker. Despite the many challenges faced and the complex on-going murder investigation, morale and effort remains extremely high within staff at the Command Post,' Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison posted on the agency's Facebook page. 'The investigation and operations continue as new surveillance video, photos, and tips from the public are continuously surfacing which aids in decision making. Out of an abundance of caution, we have been given notice to, and are working in conjunction with our surrounding counties in the event Mr. Decker moves through the forest into their jurisdiction. Additionally, the more agencies we can get involved, and the more the public remains vigilant, the better opportunity for success in the capture of Mr. Decker.' Copyright 2025 UPI News Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
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Four Midlands murder cases collapse over police evidence failures
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Travis Decker's Alleged Search History From Before Death of Children Revealed
Travis Decker's search history contained a lot of questions about moving to Canada just before his daughters went missing ... according to the U.S. Marshals Service. In a new affidavit filed earlier this week, Deputy Keegan Stanley of the U.S. Marshals Service explains officers obtained Decker's search history around the time the warrant for his arrest was issued. On May 26, 2025, Stanley writes Decker allegedly searched several questions including ... "'how does a person move to canada', 'how to relocate to canada', and "jobs canada." As you know ... a manhunt for Decker began in Washington this week after police accused him of murdering his three daughters -- Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5. The three girls likely died by asphyxiation according to reports ... and cops say their bodies were found near a campground in Chelan County, WA -- one Travis allegedly visited the day before they died. Decker has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder, and one count of kidnapping. Strange video has surfaced of Decker seemingly running his hands up and down the door of an unknown residence and feeling the doorknob just days before the deaths of his kids ... it's not clear exactly why he's doing this. Despite ongoing efforts by law enforcement, Decker -- who has military training and extensive outdoor expertise, according to police -- has not been captured yet.
