Latest news with #Paityn
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Yahoo
Search for Travis Decker Scaled Back Nearly Two Months After He Disappeared Following Daughters' Killing
Decker has been the subject of a manhunt since June 2 when his three daughters were found murdered near his abandoned pickup truck in Washington stateNEED TO KNOW The nearly two-month long search for murder suspect Travis Decker is being scaled back due to a decrease in leads and tips The search efforts have included swift water teams, K-9 teams, air assets, and personnel on foot A warrant for Decker's arrest on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping was issued after his three daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, were found dead in a remote campground on June 2 in Chelan County, in Washington state are scaling back the search for Travis Decker, the man suspected of killing his three daughters nearly two months ago. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office said in a press release on Friday, July 25, that they are continuing the search with a 'reduced footprint' due to a 'decrease in leads and tips' into Decker's location. They noted that the criminal investigation remains ongoing. 'Law enforcement personnel, along with search and rescue organizations have conducted an exhaustive search for Mr. Decker of the wilderness area surrounding the initial crime scene,' the release states. Decker, 32, has been the subject of a manhunt since June 2, when his three daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, were found asphyxiated in a remote area of the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Wash., authorities have said. The father's abandoned pickup truck led investigators to the bodies. Three days earlier, Decker had picked up the girls for a court-approved visit but failed to return them to their mother, Whitney Decker. Whitney then reported them missing to Wenatchee police, which triggered a massive search for the four. The search efforts have included swift water teams, K-9 teams, air assets, and personnel on foot, the sheriff's office said. 'As of today, Mr. Decker has still not been located, and there is insufficient information to suggest that he is alive, nor if he is deceased,' the release states. Decker is wanted on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping. Amid the search, there were two possible sightings of Decker — one in June and another in July — but authorities have since confirmed they were not him. Officials have described Decker as a combat veteran who, at the time of his disappearance, had been homeless and living in his vehicle or at campgrounds in the area. They have also said he has been trained to survive in the woods. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Also, Whitney alleged that her ex-husband had "neglected his parental duties towards a child" and "has a long-term emotional or physical problem that gets in the way of his ability to parent,' in a September 2024 court filing outlining their parenting schedule, PEOPLE previously reported. A $20,000 reward has been offered by the U.S. Marshals Service for information leading to Decker's arrest. Read the original article on People
New York Post
17-07-2025
- New York Post
Travis Decker seen on police dashcam footage from car accident 3 days before allegedly killing daughters: report
Fugitive dad Travis Decker was filmed on a police dashboard camera just three days before he allegedly killed his three young daughters, according to a report. Decker, 32, slammed into a car at a red light in Wenatchee, Washington, on May 27, and begged the motorist he crashed into 'not to call the police,' local King 5 reported. The nearly 20-minute dash cam video showed Decker leaning up against his pick-up truck and staring at the responding officer as he completed the police report. Advertisement 4 Police dash cam footage from the May 27 crash showed showed Travis Decker (center) acting strangely after a car accident. king5 The unidentified motorist told the outlet that Decker, a homeless Army veteran, 'looked almost intimidating to me' when he told the soon-to-be fugitive that he had called police. 'I could tell he was not in his full senses,' the driver added, noting Decker asked odd questions during the accident report. Advertisement Police said Decker was also in a traffic accident on May 4, in which the accused killer rear-ended a Honda CRV and sped away. The driver of the Honda tailed Decker's truck and provided his license plate number to police, according to the report. The May 27 encounter with Decker ended with a visibly uncomfortable nine-second long handshake during which the motorist attempted to wrestle his hand away from the fugitive dad. Decker reportedly repeatedly asked the man if he was 'going to be OK' during that awkward exchange, the report stated. Advertisement The other driver was shocked when he recognized Decker's face three days later, plastered across the news. 4 The unidentified motorist said Decker begged him not to call police after the car accident. king5 'I had to stop what I was doing and sit down,' he told King 5. On May 30, Decker allegedly zip-tied plastic bags over the heads of daughters Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia 5, suffocating them to death just hours after picking them up for planned visitation, according to authorities. Advertisement The girls' bodies were found on June 2 — bound at the wrists and necks with zip ties near Rock Island Campground not far from Decker's abandoned truck. 'I truly hope that the legacy of the girls' lives lives on in everyone's heart forever,' grieving mom Whitney Decker said at an event held on their behalf last month. 4 Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia Decker were found zip-tied with bags over their head on June 2, not far from their father's abandoned truck. Facebook/Katie Vogel 'They were incredible,' she added through tears. Authorities are still searching for Decker — and are not certain that the accused fiend is still breathing. 'At this time, there is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area,' the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office said in a statement last month. 'Seemingly strong early leads gave way to less convincing proofs over the last two weeks of searching. Still, we can't and won't quit this search; Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker deserve justice. And Decker remains a danger to the public as long as he's at large,' the statement said. Advertisement 4 Travis Decker, 32, a homeless Army veteran, is still at large and is considered a dangerous to the public. Wenatchee Police Department via AP US Marshals called off the hunt in Idaho after a false-alarm sighting in Sawtooth National Forest — where a man who looked like Decker was reportedly 'exhibiting odd behavior' on an ATV trail on Fourth of July weekend.
CNN
07-07-2025
- CNN
Federal resources, cadaver dogs and receding water. What we know about the search for Travis Decker
CrimeFacebookTweetLink Follow People are starting to flock to the Cascades near Leavenworth, Washington, to enjoy the summer weather amid a backdrop of rugged mountains and scenic trails. And as water in Icicle Creek starts to recede, police are hoping it helps their search for a man accused of killing his daughters more than a month ago. Known as the American Alps, the Cascades is a popular tourist destination and offers many activities for outdoor enthusiasts like hiking and camping. It's also where 5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn and 9-year-old Paityn, were found suffocated to death at an abandoned campsite on June 2, launching an intense manhunt for their father, Travis Decker. The search has been complicated by treacherous terrain, and the fact that crews are looking for an Army veteran skilled in wilderness survival who had a three-day head start. But there's hope that the busy summer season will bring answers. 'It may work in our favor now that we have that many people out there just saturating that part of the county with camping, hiking and other recreating,' Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison told CNN. The search has now also expanded into areas where creek waters have started to subside and the flow has slowed, the sheriff said. Authorities are hoping to find Decker alive in the mountainous area, but recognize that he might not be there anymore or might turn up dead. 'We're not going to glorify his abilities. We don't think that he's some kind of special forces guru,' Morrison said. 'He could get lucky at times, and eventually luck runs out.' While drones, a swift water team, cadaver dogs and even GoPros have so far found nothing of evidentiary value – an effort the sheriff says has already cost millions – Morrison is confident these new factors will turn something up. 'The search is unmatched,' Morrison said. 'We've never had anything like this in Chelan County.' Here's what we know about the ongoing search for Decker: Decker was charged with murdering the three girls by suffocating them with plastic bags not long after he picked them up from their mother for what was supposed to be a three-hour joint custody visit on May 30. His truck was found abandoned in the area of Rock Island Campground on June 2. His daughters' bodies were nearly 100 yards away down a small embankment, along with zip ties and plastic bags found strewn throughout the area, according to a police affidavit. Authorities also found a bloody fingerprint – not a handprint as a police affidavit previously indicated – on the truck's tailgate, as well as Decker's dog. Blood found at the scene matched a DNA profile believed to be Decker's, though investigators do not think he has been seriously hurt, the sheriff said. The dog also had a minor injury but was otherwise OK. Decker leaving behind his truck likely means he is on foot, Morrison said, which slows down his mobility. He also left equipment behind, meaning he is unprepared unless he had stashed supplies out in the woods. 'That's a strange item to leave behind, and hopefully that leaves him less prepared to survive long term,' Morrison told CNN, adding that they still hope to find Decker alive. 'We'd rather have him give himself up. I guarantee that we're going to treat him with respect and dignity, but he is going to be pursued as a suspect, and we'll continue to do our job.' While drones and helicopters have searched Icicle Creek from above, safer conditions have now allowed swift water crews to go in for a closer look. Icicle Creek flows from Josephine Lake to the Wenatchee River near Leavenworth. Cloudy, rushing waters in the spring give way to calmer, clear flows in the summer. 'Because we've had spring runoff, it was not a safe environment to put our team into,' the sheriff said. 'Now that the water has started subside, the flow has slowed, we're going to put our teams in there and see what we can find.' The receding water is exposing more riverbank and fallen trees or other debris that could pin someone down, the sheriff said. It could also reveal potential hiding spots. Having more people in the area where Decker disappeared might also help the search. 'This is typically how cases like this are brought to an end – is that we have someone that remained observant, saw something, reported it,' Morrison said. Authorities have said that Decker should be considered dangerous. While they don't believe he is armed, the sheriff said they're trying to get the message out to residents to be cautious when in the area. But there's also a chance Decker has left the area. Decker had searched online for information about moving to Canada days before his children were killed, a deputy US Marshal said in a court affidavit. His truck and the children's remains were found less than a dozen miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a 2,650-mile path that runs all the way to the Canadian border. Local authorities were in contact with the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, who 'were doing some follow-up on some leads we had up in Canada,' Morrison previously said. While Decker had survival training in the military, is familiar with the area and had a three-day head start, Morrison is confident in the abilities of the massive team of searchers looking for him. The sheriff said he has resources from the National Park Service, National Forest Service, US Customs and Border Protection, the FBI and the US Marshal Service, along with other area agencies. 'We feel that we have the right assets, resources and people on the ground that will match his abilities, if not surpass it,' the sheriff said. 'But we recognize that clearly, you never want to underestimate your opponent, and we do view Travis as an opponent at this time.' But what has proven challenging is the rugged terrain of the area. It's very mountainous, heavily wooded and includes mining shafts and caves. Morrison estimates that the search has cost 'well over' $6 million in the first month, and indicated that it would have cost him half his department's budget for the year had it not been for all the other agencies' help. 'I don't think that he's going to get any rest, because we're going to continue to cycle in fresh resources,' the sheriff said. Still, the search has been difficult for those involved and the community. 'It's frustrating that we haven't found him yet, but we'll continue to search,' he said. For Morrison, who is a father, this case is an emotional one. He wants to assure the victims' family that his team won't give up. 'We continue to be here, and we want to be the voice for Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia and make sure that justice is served,' he said. CNN's Andy Rose and Alaa Elassar contributed to this report.
7NEWS
25-06-2025
- 7NEWS
Travis Decker: Grim theory on what happened to dad accused of murdering his three young daughters
The manhunt for a father who is believed to have murdered his three young daughters in a crime that shocked the world has taken a grim turn. Cadaver dogs have been called in as the search for Travis Decker enters its fourth week, with police believing the military veteran may have died. Authorities have been scouring thick forest in Washington State after the bodies of Mr Decker's daughters Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, were all found with their hands bound and plastic bags over their heads. In an update on social media, the Kittitas County Sheriff's office said that despite a flood of tips, there was no specific evidence that Mr Decker remained alive or even in the search area. 'Seemingly strong early leads gave way to less convincing proofs over the last two weeks of searching. Still, we can't and won't quit this search; Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker deserve justice. And Decker remains a danger to the public as long as he's at large,' the post read. It went on, 'Some search resources are being redirected to find and recover Decker if he died in the rugged wilderness during this intense search — a possibility that increases every day. 'Visible extra patrols continue in the area. The US Marshals service has turned their fugitive-finding resources to the task of finding Decker if he's left our area.' Mr Decker collected the girls for a scheduled visit on May 30 but failed to return them at the agreed time. Their mother Whitney, who had previously raised concerns about Mr Decker's spiralling mental health, raised the alarm with police, sparking a large-scale search. But that ended in tragedy three days later when the girls' bodies were found at a campground close to their father's white 2017 GMC Sierra truck at the Rock Island campground in Wenatchee. During an emotional memorial on the weekend, their Ms Decker spoke of her 'incredible' girls. 'I truly hope that the legacy of the girls' lives lives on in everyone's heart forever,' she said, before going on to describe a family tradition that she developed with the girls after her divorce called 'three feelings'. That is where, at the end of every day, she would ask each daughter about three feelings they experienced that day and what was happening when they felt those emotions. 'I'm so thankful for the time that I had with the girls. And how the three feelings allowed us to connect when the world slowed down. And it really gave me an inside look into their day,' she said. 'I believe doing this with them allowed them to come into the world with open hearts and kindness.'
West Australian
25-06-2025
- West Australian
Travis Decker: Grim theory on what happened to dad accused of murdering his three young daughters
The manhunt for a father who is believed to have murdered his three young daughters in a crime that shocked the world has taken a grim turn. Cadaver dogs have been called in as the search for Travis Decker enters its fourth week, with police believing the military veteran may have died. Authorities have been scouring thick forest in Washington State after the bodies of Mr Decker's daughters Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, were all found with their hands bound and plastic bags over their heads. In an update on social media, the Kittitas County Sheriff's office said that despite a flood of tips, there was no specific evidence that Mr Decker remained alive or even in the search area. 'Seemingly strong early leads gave way to less convincing proofs over the last two weeks of searching. Still, we can't and won't quit this search; Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker deserve justice. And Decker remains a danger to the public as long as he's at large,' the post read. It went on, 'Some search resources are being redirected to find and recover Decker if he died in the rugged wilderness during this intense search — a possibility that increases every day. 'Visible extra patrols continue in the area. The US Marshals service has turned their fugitive-finding resources to the task of finding Decker if he's left our area.' Mr Decker collected the girls for a scheduled visit on May 30 but failed to return them at the agreed time. Their mother Whitney, who had previously raised concerns about Mr Decker's spiralling mental health, raised the alarm with police, sparking a large-scale search. But that ended in tragedy three days later when the girls' bodies were found at a campground close to their father's white 2017 GMC Sierra truck at the Rock Island campground in Wenatchee. During an emotional memorial on the weekend, their Ms Decker spoke of her 'incredible' girls. 'I truly hope that the legacy of the girls' lives lives on in everyone's heart forever,' she said, before going on to describe a family tradition that she developed with the girls after her divorce called 'three feelings'. That is where, at the end of every day, she would ask each daughter about three feelings they experienced that day and what was happening when they felt those emotions. 'I'm so thankful for the time that I had with the girls. And how the three feelings allowed us to connect when the world slowed down. And it really gave me an inside look into their day,' she said. 'I believe doing this with them allowed them to come into the world with open hearts and kindness.' 'I hope that you are all able to do some version of the three feelings with your loved ones,' she told the grieving crowd.
