Authorities in Washington state are intensifying their search for Travis Decker, the 32-year-old father accused of murdering his three daughters, as the manhunt enters its fourth week. Officials now say Decker may have died in the remote wilderness, prompting the planned deployment of a cadaver dog.
Decker is wanted for the deaths of his daughters—Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—whose bodies were discovered near his abandoned vehicle at a secluded campground. The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office stated Monday that while there’s no conclusive evidence Decker remains alive or in the area, the search continues across Teenaway Valley, Liberty, Lauderdale, and Blewett Pass.
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“Strong early leads have dwindled in the last two weeks,” the department acknowledged. “Still, we can’t and won’t quit this search.”
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison confirmed that a cadaver dog will be brought in to assist the operation. The Kittitas Sheriff’s Office noted that search resources are shifting toward recovery efforts, admitting “it is a possibility that increases every day” that Decker may not have survived the rugged terrain.
The update came days after the girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, publicly addressed her loss. “I truly hope that the legacy of the girls lives on in everyone’s heart forever,” she said during a June 20 memorial service.
Decker disappeared after failing to return the girls from a court-ordered visitation on May 30. Three days later, authorities found the girls’ bodies at Rock Island Campground, with plastic bags over their heads and their wrists bound.
According to court documents, Decker—a military-trained survivalist—had been homeless and moving between campsites. He also struggled with mental health issues.
Last week, police released updated flyers showing how Decker may have altered his appearance—possibly shaving facial hair or wearing a baseball cap. Officials warn that Decker is armed and dangerous, though they do not believe he poses a threat to the public.
The U.S. Marshals Special Operations Group, along with the Border Patrol Tactical Unit and the King County Sheriff’s Office, has ramped up efforts to locate Decker. Photos shared this week from the Colchuck Lake area reveal the extreme conditions of the manhunt—marshals in camouflage scanning rugged peaks, helicopters hovering above snowy cliffs, and search teams coordinating across difficult terrain.
Officials recently dismissed a fake TikTok video that falsely claimed Decker had been captured. “To be clear, Mr. Decker is not in custody,” the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office emphasized in a Facebook post.
Travis Decker faces charges of three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping. A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
“We recognize we have a job to do,” said Sheriff Morrison. “If we fail, the voices of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia will not be heard—and that’s not going to be acceptable.”
