Police say father suspected of killing his 3 daughters could be hiding in the wilderness
Police say father suspected of killing his 3 daughters could be hiding in the wilderness
Authorities in Washington state said the father wanted in the deaths of his three young daughters may have scoped out a hiding location before going off the grid using his outdoor survival skills.
Travis Decker, 32, is wanted on charges including three counts of first-degree murder in connection with the deaths of Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, according to the Wenatchee Police Department. Investigators have learned from Decker's father that he is well-versed in outdoor survival, a skill that may have assisted his efforts to avoid detection, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison confirmed at a June 4 news conference.
In addition to being an outdoorsman, Decker went to mountain survival school and served in the U.S. Army, potentially making the search more challenging.
"It sounds like at times he would go out and would be leaving off grid for sometimes up to two and a half months," Morrison told reporters. "So we understand that that's a possibility, that he could have scoped out this area before put supplies out there and has the ability and the knowledge to survive for a long period of time."
But Morrison assured that police will continue to work with federal agencies, from the FBI to Homeland Security, to track Decker down, adding that "we're up for that challenge."
"Travis, if you're out there seeing us, we'd like you to turn yourself in," he said. "We want a peaceful resolution to this, but we're not going to relinquish our efforts. So please turn yourself in. Let's wrap this up and do what's right for your kids."
How did the three sisters die?
Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia were found slain by apparent suffocation in a remote campground, according to the Wenatchee Police Department. The girl's mother reported the children missing on May 30 after they left their central Washington home to visit their father.
On June 2, a Chelan County deputy found an unoccupied truck at about 3:45 p.m. near the Rock Island Campground. Officers found the bodies of the missing girls soon after, about 75 to 100 yards past the vehicle, down a small embankment, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by USA TODAY.
While Travis Decker was nowhere to be found, investigators traced his cell phone, which revealed that visited the same campground the day before the kidnapping, the court papers show.
Who is Travis Decker?
Travis Decker, 32, from the Wenatchee area, was homeless and living out of a white 2017 GMC Sierra pickup at the time the girls vanished, according to police.
Police said he is a former military member with extensive training who "may pose a significant risk, if approached." Police did not confirm if he was armed while on the run.
Travis Decker is a native of Pewaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Pewaukee High School in the Milwaukee metropolitan area, according to an online records search by USA TODAY. One of Travis Decker's previous addresses included an Army P.O. box.
USA TODAY has reached out to the U.S. Army for comment.
He was a member of a standout 2010 Pewaukee wrestling team that reached the state finals, according to the Milwaukee News Sentinel, part of the USA TODAY Network. His brother, TJ Decker, said Travis Decker graduated from the school in 2010, Fox 6 reported.
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Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Manhunt for Travis Decker reaches day 8 with heavy law enforcement presence in the North Cascades
Saturday marks day eight in the search for Travis Decker. He is the Wenatchee man accused of kidnapping and killing his three young daughters. Authorities are focusing in on the Cascade Mountains. The Enchantments are shut down until further notice. As of Saturday afternoon, the National Guard is also joining the crews after emergency funding put in place by Governor Bob Ferguson. The search command center off Icicle Road is crawling with activity into the weekend as hundreds of law enforcement officers head into the mountains. Saturday morning was especially active as helicopters brought in dozens of crews from the Cascades and switched them out with new crews ready to get to work. Erik Hampton with East Cascade SWAT tells us they are heavily resourced and have the best of the best out there, but the steep terrain is not easy to search through. 'It's very steep it's very thick and it's big country there's a lot of it. There's a lot of ways in and out,' Hampton said. Icicle Road out of Leavenworth leads to dozens of trails and campgrounds. Normally on a hot June weekend, it's full of backpackers, hikers, and campers. Today, it's empty as the area is still shut down due to the search. 'We are hoping to exhaust this area for any sign of him we are not going to leave any stone unturned,' Hampton said. 'We are doing operations into the night, we have done them since Monday the same thing so we are working hard.' Federal, state, and local resources are flooding the Enchantments actively searching for Travis Decker. Right now, those resources include helicopters from Spokane, Chelan, and King County Sheriff's Offices along with the Coast Guard, National Guard, and Border Patrol. Deputies say there is also law enforcement officers and special teams from local, state, and federal resources combing every inch of the mountains. Hampton tells us they are also using special equipment to detect body heat levels as well. About 100 years away from the command center is Leavenworth Outdoor Center. The owner, David Johnson, said they have been listening to the helicopters fly just feet above their building since Tuesday. He tells us even the tourists know who Travis Decker is. 'Everyone seems to be bringing it up now, the first couple of days it was shocking and people weren't talking about it, but now it's all-over social media and customers are asking about it when they get here,' Johnson said. He tells us this is normally a packed area, but with the closure not that far down Icicle, it's been a bit slower. On Saturday, the closure turnaround spot was full of people who say they came out to hike but didn't realize they couldn't go back there. 'Well it is really disappointing I was really excited for this,' said Mayra Salgadl, a hiker trying to get to Colchuck Lake. Hampton said anyone they found inside the Okenagon Forest was asked to leave immediately. 'There were quite a few people when we started, I don't have an exact count for you on that, but it's blank in there right now,' Hampton said. He tells us that area takes a special expertise to look through properly. 'It's very steep, it's very thick and it's big country there's a lot of it. There's a lot of ways in and out,' Hampton said. But for those who live inside the search bubble, police are urging you to just call 911 if you think you see Decker. 'No do not approach, he is dangerous, he is a dangerous person,' Hampton said.
New York Times
4 hours ago
- New York Times
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. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Newsweek
6 hours ago
- Newsweek
Father Accused of Killing Daughters Could Be Traveling to Canada: Police
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Authorities in Washington state believe Travis Decker may be fleeing to Canada after federal court documents revealed the 32-year-old father researched Canadian relocation extensively before allegedly killing his three young daughters, according to local station KOMO News. Newsweek has reached out to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office via email on Saturday for comment. Why It Matters This case highlights critical vulnerabilities in missing persons alert systems and parental visitation safety protocols. The Wenatchee Police Department said Washington State Patrol was contacted to request an AMBER Alert, but "it did not meet the required criteria." What To Know Decker picked up his daughters on May 30 for a court-ordered scheduled visitation. According to attorney Arianna Cozart, who represents the girls' mother Whitney Decker, Travis and her client were in constant contact regarding their children. The former couple had been discussing Travis' dog Chinook and concerns about what to do with the dog as temperatures rose as Travis was living in his car. Whitney offered to let the dog live with her. Travis later instructed the children to get their belongings and told Whitney they'd return at 8 p.m. but never returned, according to Cozart. Cozart added that if her client had noticed any unusual behavior, "Whitney would not have allowed the visitation." The bodies of 5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 9-year-old Paityn Decker were discovered at a campground near Leavenworth, approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail on June 2 after being reported missing by their mother. Each child was found with plastic bags over their heads and zip-tied wrists, with preliminary autopsy results indicating death by asphyxiation, according to the U.S. Marshals Service. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office said Decker is wanted for three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. Court documents, meanwhile, show Decker searched "how does a person move to Canada," "how to relocate to Canada," and "jobs Canada" in the days leading up to the tragedy, while also visiting the Canadian government's job search website on May 26. Investigators obtained and served several search warrants for Decker's Google accounts, which included previous searches made from his account. The trail runs from Mexico to Canada, ending at the northern border where no physical barrier exists. More than 100 officers are involved in the search covering rugged terrain in Washington's Cascade Mountains, with over 500 tips received from the public, according to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office. Court documents describe Decker as a "well-versed outdoorsman" with training in "navigation, woodland/mountainous terrain, long distance movements, survival," who once lived off-grid in backwoods for 2.5 months. Federal prosecutors note his military background includes "numerous disciplines needed to be able to flee." Authorities have closed multiple recreational areas including parts of the Pacific Crest Trail, the Enchantments, and Icicle Creek area near Leavenworth through at least June 18. Violations of the closure order carry fines up to $5,000 and potential six-month imprisonment. Travis Decker, 32, is seen in this undated photo provided by the Wenatchee Police Department. Travis Decker, 32, is seen in this undated photo provided by the Wenatchee Police Department. Wenatchee Police Department via AP What People Are Saying Arianna Cozart, speaking about her client Whitney Decker, in comments to Newsweek: "I think she is still reeling from losing her entire world. She is strong and kind and wants this tragedy to spur change and save lives. That is what is driving her right now. Wenatchee Police Department wrote on Facebook: "We want to express our sincere and deep heartfelt condolences to the family at this time." What Happens Next? Federal authorities have now charged Decker with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. The coordinated search continues with local, state, and federal agencies including the FBI and Homeland Security. Authorities have offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest and urge residents in remote areas of five Washington counties to secure their properties and leave lights on.
