Travis Decker search intensifies after campers claim sighting
The family was camping in the Bear Creek area, of the vast forest, which spans over two million acres across Idaho and Utah. They said the unidentified man was between 5'8" and 5'10," with black gauged earrings and had a black backpack. They added that he was wearing a black mesh cap, a cream-colored shirt, and black shorts. He had his hair in a ponytail and he had a mustache and an overgrown beard.
The description matches Decker's appearance, who is 5'8"and weighs around 190 lbs., according to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office. He also has black hair, brown eyes, and earrings. The sheriff's office released doctored photos of Decker to illustrate what he could look like after being on the run for over a month. Authorities have warned that he could be armed and dangerous. Anyone who believes they've spotted Decker has been warned not to approach him and call 911 immediately.
The US Marshals Office has offered a reward of up to $20,000 for any information leading to the suspect's arrest. The potential update comes after an exhaustive weeks-long search that left authorities coming up with dead ends. The nightmare saga began on May 30 when Decker picked his daughters up from their mother Whitney's home. Whitney contacted police later that evening after Decker failed to bring the girls home. She expressed concern to authorities due to her ex-husband's history with mental health and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder from his time in the military.
Decker was court-mandated to receive mental health treatment and domestic violence anger management counseling but had refused. Police said he was homeless and living out of his car. The following day, police issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert for the three girls. On June 2, Decker's vehicle was found, and authorities made the grim discovery of his daughters' remains.
Decker was charged with three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping, but police never found the alleged killer. Reports swirled two days later that Decker was spotted in Idaho, but authorities later dispelled the rumors. An autopsy then confirmed the horrific cause of death was suffocation and their deaths were ruled a homicide.
Authorities later said that there was no evidence that Decker was still alive as the sheriff's office pivoted their search with cadaver dogs. However, some experts, including law enforcement and security analyst Todd McGhee, said that Decker's extensive military background may've enabled him to live in the wilderness.
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