WA residents on alert as manhunt for Travis Decker stretches into Kittitas County
Authorities are searching for Travis Decker, the man accused of murdering his three young daughters, in Washington's Chelan and Kittitas counties.
Residents are urged to stay vigilant and report any sightings, as law enforcement uses helicopters and infrared cameras in the search.
The Kittitas County Sheriff's Office emphasizes community involvement and continues to ask for public tips to locate Decker.
Cle Elum, wash. - The Chelan County Sheriff's Office said Wednesday that the sheriff in Kittitas County has been helping in the hunt for Travis Decker.
There were concerns that he may have made it to the nearby Teanaway Trail area. In the meantime, law enforcement in both counties are asking residents to be on the lookout for the triple-murder suspect.
Local perspective
The Gardineer girls just got out of school for summer break. It should be a time for playing with their pup Olive, feeding chickens Ginger and Shelly, and hiking local trails.
"It's like a pretty wooded area around here," said Phoenix Gardineer, who lives in the search area.
However, many of their plans are now canceled.
"I feel like we can't go on hikes anymore," said Panthra Gardineer, who lives in the search area.
Because the girls and their grandma live near Ingalls Creek, they are right in the middle of the expanded search area for Travis Decker.
"We are locking doors," said Phoenix.
"A lot of helicopters the first day, back and forth, up and down the river, and up and down the highway," said Anitria Nicol, who lives in the search area.
The Washington State Patrol has joined in the search from the sky. Spokesperson Chris Loftis says WSP has provided more than 23 flight hours of requested air support, using two Cessnas equipped with high-powered infrared cameras.
"It's going to take a group effort and the community to bring this to a conclusion," said Sheriff Mike Morrison, Chelan County Sheriff.
Part of that effort has involved asking residents in the family's area to be on the lookout.
"We are continuing to reach out and talk to different residents throughout Valley High and the Ingalls Creek area, to see if they have any cameras mounted to their house," said Morrison.
The family will be doing their part by potentially using the camera that watches over their flock of chickens, to keep an eagle eye out for Decker.
"We have a trail cam, with our chickens," said Phoenix.
"I feel like he's not going to come around people with guns and barking dogs for the most part," said Anitria Nicol.
For now, rather than hiking in the woods, Panthra says her new summer break hobby is taking pictures of the helicopters and planes as they continue their search.
"It's like straight over our house. I look out the window and I just see the plane right out the window and I'm like, 'Wow, it's super low'," said Panthra.
Here is Thursday's statement from the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office:
"Kittitas County Sheriff's deputies and tactical team members are maintaining elevated presence in the area near the active manhunt for Travis Decker, the man suspected of killing his three young daughters in the Icicle Creek area of Chelan County. This includes visible patrols, backcountry teams, and drones, all operating day and night. We're focused on safeguarding our community and having the right resources in place to detect and apprehend Decker if he comes to our county.
The best chance for a swift and successful end to this search is intelligence that comes from the public. As people head into the wilderness in and around the Teanaway valley and Blewett Pass this weekend, we ask the public to be vigilant and alert to anything unusual.
If you see Travis Decker call 911 immediately. If you learn anything that might indicate his presence or whereabouts in our county, promptly call Kittcom at 509-925-8534. Thank you to everyone who has offered information so far and to everyone who will!
Thanks also to the Ellensburg Police Department for dedicating its members of the Kittitas County Tactical Response Team to this critical mission."
The Source
Information in this story came from the Kittitas County Sheriff's Office, Chelan County Sheriff's Office, Washington State Patrol and original FOX 13 Seattle reporting and interviews.
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CBS News
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- CBS News
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Fox News
17-07-2025
- Fox News
Triple murder suspect dad seen in police footage days before daughters found dead
Newly released police dashcam footage shows the military-trained Washington father accused of murdering his three daughters just days before the girls' bodies were discovered. Travis Decker is wanted for his alleged involvement in the brutal killings of his three daughters – Olivia, 5, Paityn, 9, and Evelyn, 8 – before disappearing into the nearby wilderness, sparking a weekslong manhunt that remains ongoing as authorities search for the father. In the footage obtained by Fox 13, Decker can be seen wearing a blue shirt and shorts, calmly interacting with police after receiving a ticket following a minor car accident. The incident occurred on May 27, three days before the three girls failed to return home to their mother after a court-mandated custody visitation with Decker. An officer from the Wenatchee Police Department arrived on the scene to find Decker and another man – who is not related to the case – standing in a local Safeway parking lot. Decker had rear-ended another vehicle that had slowed for traffic, damaging his truck's front bumper, according to the police report obtained by Fox 13. He was subsequently issued an infraction via mail for driving without insurance and following too closely. The Wenatchee Police Department did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment. In the video, Decker appears to look relaxed as he leans against the back of his truck while speaking with the officer. Three days later, the father of three was reportedly "quieter than usual," appearing out of character as he met his daughters for the planned visitation, according to the local outlet. Days after Decker's ex-wife reported the three girls missing on the evening they were supposed to return home from their visit, the young children were found asphyxiated to death in a local camping ground just feet away from Decker's abandoned truck. Authorities from local, state and federal agencies – including the U.S. Marshals Service – subsequently launched an extensive manhunt for Decker, who authorities have described as a military-trained survivalist. On July 5, authorities received a tip from a family reporting seeing a man fitting the description of Decker in the Bear Creek area of Idaho's Sawtooth National Forest. However, the lead proved to be false after police announced they located the man believed to be Decker and confirmed the father was not spotted in the wilderness. Officials warn Decker should be considered armed and dangerous, but insist there is no reason to believe he poses a threat to the public. He is charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping. The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $20,000 reward for any information leading to Decker's arrest.
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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.
