Police believe remains found in Washington are of father accused of killing his three daughters

 

Police in Washington state say they have discovered human remains believed to be those of Travis Decker, who was wanted in connection with the killing of his three daughters. Decker, 32, had been the subject of a months-long search after his daughters Paityn, aged nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia, five, were found dead in a remote campground on 2 June. Officers also recovered his truck and mobile phone nearby, but Decker had vanished into the wilderness.

Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement that while positive identification has not yet been made, early findings suggest the remains are Decker’s. They were located in a remote wooded area on Grindstone Mountain, just a few miles from where the girls’ bodies were discovered.

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Decker faced charges of kidnapping and first-degree murder. Authorities say the children died from apparent suffocation, and their wrists were bound with zip ties. The girls’ mother had reported them missing on 30 May after Decker failed to return them home following a visit and ignored her phone calls.

Investigators had long suspected that Decker, a former soldier with survival training, was hiding in the rugged and heavily forested mountains of Washington state. According to Sheriff Morrison, Decker’s family said he had previously lived off-grid for months at a time. His disappearance triggered widespread searches, including closures of popular hiking trails and national forest areas.

The US Marshals Service had offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to his capture, and local police worked with federal agencies during the manhunt. Decker’s military background, along with speculation he had attended mountain survival school, made authorities believe he could evade detection for an extended period.

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The discovery of remains this week marks a possible conclusion to the case that has gripped communities across Washington. Officials confirmed the remains were found just miles from the original crime scene. Formal identification and further forensic testing are still pending.

The murders shocked the town of Wenatchee, where the girls’ mother lives. Authorities have described the case as one of the most disturbing in recent years, leaving the community mourning the loss of three young lives.