Travis Decker manhunt: What we know about search for dad suspected of killing 3 girls

Yahoo

11-06-2025

Just over a week after three Washington girls were reported missing and later found dead, a medical examiner has ruled their suffocation deaths as homicide, and their suspected killer − their father − is still on the run.
The girls, 5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 9-year-old Paityn Decker, were visiting their dad, Travis Decker, 32, when they were last seen around 5 p.m. on May 30, according to the Wenatchee Police Department.
At the time of the visit, Decker was living out of his vehicle, police said, later adding that investigators secured a warrant for Decker's arrest for three counts of custodial interference.
The girls were found dead near a campground on June 2, three days after they were last seen alive. Decker is now wanted on charges of murder, kidnapping and custodial interference.
Here's everything we know about the case as the manhunt for Decker continues.
On Monday, June 9, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said the medical examiner has ruled the girls' death as homicide by suffocation. The office also said Decker's dog has been found and taken to the humane society.
The night of June 8, the sheriff's office let federal authorities take over search operations so local authorities can rest and eventually rejoin the search.
"Our command staff continues to be engaged with the search command while we give our teams time off to rest and recuperate and be ready to rejoin the search for, and capture of, the suspect," the sheriff's office said in a news release on June 9.
The sheriff's office said it is still handling the criminal investigation.
Blood samples taken from the scene came back positive for as that of a male, and another sample was not human blood, the sheriff's office said. Investigators are analyzing DNA and fingerprints. According to the sheriff's office, investigators have collected "a large amount of evidence, many of the suspect's personal items," from Decker's truck.
According to Wenatchee police, Decker was living out of his 2017 GMC Sierra pickup truck with license plates D20165C in Wenatchee, about 148 miles east of Seattle.
The girls' mother called for help around 9:45 p.m. on May 30 and said her children were at a planned visit with their father. He never returned the girls, so she called for help.
Wenatchee police said they "immediately began working" to find Decker and the girls and entered Decker's vehicle into a local flock database, which showed that the vehicle traveled westbound on a highway from Wenatchee on May 30. Police said they also checked all motels in the area and found nothing.
According to police, someone contacted Washington State Patrol that same night to request an AMBER alert, but the case "did not meet the required criteria." The next day, Wenatchee police contacted the Washington State Police again with more information and an Endangered Missing Person Alert was issued.
By June 2, three days after the girls were last seen, authorities had narrowed down their search to an area between two roads in Washington. Investigators found Decker's vehicle around 3:45 p.m. on June 2 near a campground.
There was no one in the vehicle, but when investigators searched the surrounding area, they found the bodies of the three girls. Their father was not found that day.
Upon learning more about how the case was handled, some social media users took to the comments to call out authorities for their lack of urgency in finding the girls.
'Following this story, you failed this family,' wrote one Facebook user. 'You didn't act immediately and because of that this mom has lost her girls forever. I hope everyone of you that told her that more time had to pass before action could be (taken) lose sleep over this.'
Chris Loftis, Director of Public Affairs for the Washington State Patrol, said on June 9 that the girls' death is "a tough situation for everyone involved."
Loftis added that in order for an AMBER Alert to be issued, multiple criteria must be met, including the missing person being 17 years old or younger, the subject being entered into an index allowing law enforcement agencies to rapidly exchange information, and descriptive information that will help in recovering the missing person.
But while these criteria were met, two weren't, Loftis said, including:
There must be reason to believe the person has been abducted.
The missing person must be in danger of imminent serious bodily injury or death.
"Our discussions with local law enforcement did not mention danger as concern," Loftis said, adding that Decker had limited custodial rights to the girls.
Read more: Why wasn't an Amber Alert sent for the 3 sisters found dead in Washington?
Loftis said that according to a specialist from the Missing and Unidentified Persons Unit, those who called about the girls being missing noted there was no threat of great bodily harm or death to the children. They also used the phrase "out of the ordinary' but said Decker usually stuck to the parenting plan.
The caller mentioned "no alarming mental health status" but said Decker may have been 'going through a lot' after leaving the military and suffering housing and employment issues.
While the requirements for an AMBER Alert were not met, there was enough for an Endangered Missing Person Alert, or EMPA, Loftis said. That alert allows authorities to post electronic fliers, push text messages and emails to a list of people who have asked to stay in the know. The alert also allowed authorities to post vehicle information on highway reader boards.
"The EMPA is used when individuals are missing and for whatever reason, are not able to assist in their own recovery, and in this scenario accomplished much the same public notification/outreach as an AMBER alert would have," Loftis said.
He added that the main difference between the AMBER Alert and an EMPA is that the AMBER Alert has includes the loud "push notification' on all cell phones in a targeted region.
"The State of Washington handled this incident no differently than any other state with the information they had available," Loftis said. "We learn from every tragedy and I'm sure we will review and learn from this set of tragedies, but the depth of this sorrow is beyond a learning opportunity right now, it is a tragedy first and forever."
On Friday, June 6, authorities from the Wenatchee Police Department and the Chelan County Sheriff's Office released new images of the girls' father.
The U.S. Forest Service overseeing the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest issued a forest closure on June 4 for the area where the girls were found. They rescinded the closure on June 8.
'Authorities are searching for a murder suspect and we encourage everyone to remain alert,' the service said. 'If you must be in the vicinity, please stay aware of your surroundings and follow any official guidance from Chelan County Sheriff's Office.'
Searches have spanned forested areas, the river, and many structures in the area Decker was last known to be in, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said.
Washington governor Bob Ferguson announced on June 7 that emergency funds would be used to help with the search for Decker.
'As a parent, my heart goes out to Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia's mom, Whitney, and all those who love them,' the governor said.
The Chelan County Sheriff's Office is working with the U.S. Marshals PNVOTF to find Decker, the office said, adding that a reward of up to $20,000 is available for information leading to his arrest.
'The suspect is not known to be armed at this time, but should be considered dangerous,' the sheriff's office said on June 3.
The office added on June 4 that Decker previously served in the military and has had 'extensive training.' He is also 'well versed in wilderness survival and capable of spending days or even weeks in the wilderness on his own and with very little equipment.'
The office also released video footage and photos captured days before his visitation with the girls. Investigators released the images so the public can see what he looked like most recently.
Decker is 5-feet-8, weighs 190 pounds, has black hair, brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts, police said.
The department asked that anyone who sees Decker call 911. Those who see him should not contact or approach him.
Those with information can contact the Chelan County Sheriff's Office tip line at [phone] or submit your information at www.co.chelan.wa.us/sheriff/forms/submit-a-tip.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Email her at [e-mail].
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Travis Decker manhunt update: Girls were suffocated, medical examiner says