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CNN
6 days ago
- CNN
This outdoor paradise in Oregon vibrates with ‘go-play-all-day energy'
See More Videos There's a reason this town experienced a population boom during the pandemic that still hasn't stopped. Given the freedom to work and live anywhere, thousands have followed their bliss to a ruggedly beautiful oasis of seriously fun activities, food and beverages in central Oregon. It's a combination that lures visitors, too. MORE AMERICA'S BEST TOWNS TO VISIT 2025 1. Ithaca, NY 2. Missoula, MT 3. Asheville, NC 4. Bend, OR 5. Annapolis, MD See all 10 towns How we picked the Best Towns to Visit Share your picks for our top towns in 2026 'I think Bend just has this magnetic pull and it's full of adventure, but still small enough to feel like home. There's insane natural beauty in every direction, a super sophisticated food and drink scene, and an outdoorsy, go-play-all-day energy that's kind of infectious,' said Bend resident Todd Clement, owner of Monkless Belgian Ales. 'There's also this big entrepreneurial spirit here, so you're constantly surrounded by people doing cool things,' he said. Logging was what initially drew people to establish this town on the edge of the Cascade Mountains. Bend was named after that feature in the river that runs through it. Long before that, Indigenous peoples hunted and fished this land. Prev Next Dozens of nearby lakes offer fishing and boating recreation. There's whitewater rafting, kayaking, rock climbing and much more in a 60-mile radius. The prominent Bend fashion look is of active leisurewear; you feel as though you've stepped into an REI or North Face catalog. You don't even need to leave the pretty town to soak in the nature and recreation. A walking and biking trail lines the winding, picturesque Deschutes River through town, a popular destination for campervans and picnickers. The riverbed was even engineered to create a river surfing wave in the Old Mill District. The recently upgraded Hayden Homes Amphitheater, the town's outdoor music venue, lies along the river. Don't be surprised to see a family of deer strolling its empty parking lot while a gaggle of geese hang out on the big lawn, waiting for the next show. James Taylor, Sting and Mumford & Sons are among the Hayden headliners this summer. Across from downtown's Tower Theatre, a leading performance space for live music and theater in the region, is a Birkenstock store — a classic Bend juxtaposition. A 10-minute drive south of town, at the edge of Deschutes National Forest, is the entertaining High Desert Museum, with up-close wildlife experiences and detailed, life-size dioramas depicting the region's Native peoples and the waves of settlement that followed. It's a great primer for exploring Bend. Museum visitors walk through exhibits depicting campsites, a dark mineshaft, a saloon and a town main street where you may be greeted by a fact-filled docent in period 'teacher' costume. There are artifacts and sound effects as well as live native animals, including bobcats and porcupines. Outside, visitors can peer underwater to see the graceful swimming of playful otters. Another five minutes farther south on Route 97 is the Newberry National Volcanic Monument with a lava tube cave you can explore. Deeper into Deschutes National Forest is Mount Bachelor, the best skiing and hiking you could ask for just a 30-minute drive from town. There are more than 100 ski runs to tackle during the long season, but you can also explore on foot, or pedal, off-season. A wide 4.5-mile Evergreen Trail on Bachelor opened up to hikers and downhill bikers just last year. Bikers take a ski lift to the top to cycle down and hikers have the option to take it either direction. Bend's outdoor ethos extends into accommodation offerings. The Deschutes riverside Tumalo State Park Campground is a 15-minute drive north of downtown and includes yurts. In town, the campy, rustic-chic Campfire Hotel (motel, really) has a saltwater pool that's heated up to 100 degrees in winter and emblazoned on the bottom with a campfire logo, and the branded items in its swag shop include a flask, metal camp cup, a marshmallow roasting fork and a s'mores kit for use at the hotel's outdoor fire pits. Rooms come with portable vintage camp chairs and acoustic guitars. There's a hot tub next to the pool, and the lively, wood-paneled Canteen cocktail bar sits just off the lobby; the hotel hosts DJ pool parties throughout the year. Across the street, Campfire's restaurant neighbor, Fire on the Mountain, serves fried Oreos and Twinkies along with beer and their signature Buffalo wings. If you stay in a house rental, you may want to find one that has a DVD player, for the excuse to patronize the World's Last Blockbuster. Bend is home to the last location of the once-ubiquitous movie rental chain. Anyone can sign up and get a membership and then browse for titles (new releases too) like they used to do back in the Wild West of pre-streaming. The store is a destination even without renting a movie, with informative displays on staff favorites such as 'Back to the Future' and the Indiana Jones series, as well as plenty of Blockbuster-branded clothes and cups for sale. Beer is the leitmotif of McMenamins Old St. Francis School, where classrooms-turned-hotel rooms take up a full city block, including a half dozen drinking establishments — one pub behind a hidden door, like a speakeasy. Guest rooms are named after staff of the former Catholic school. There's a theater (with first-run films for guests and visitors), and a heated soaking pool that features water-spitting lions and mosaic depictions of St. Francis doing good animal husbandry works. At Monkless Belgian Ales Brasserie, you can genuflect before the Shepplekofeggan, a Witbier in honor of 'friendship,' the cleverly named 'Dubbel or Nothing' and many more. But its biggest asset may be the location. Overlooking the Deschutes River just across from the Hayden, the brasserie offers customers a chance to strategically book a table on the deck to enjoy a free outdoor concert, along with all the resourceful tubers on the water. If you want to go all-in on just the breweries, you can make a game of it (with prizes), along the Bend Ale Trail. 'Bend has become one of the best beer towns in the country, not just because we have a high number of breweries, but because of the genuine community and collaboration that exists among us,' said Clement of Monkless Belgian Ales. Located in the up-and-coming Eastside area of town, Dogwood at the Pine Shed opened in February and quickly became the cool new hangout, whether it's in their designated book nook area or under the disco ball. The cocktails are inventive, tasty and delightful to order, with names such as the Juan Connery (Scotch, pimms and chipotle), Beetnik (made with an 'earthy' beet vodka), and the Absinthe Minded. The menu also represents the local trend in zero proof and low-ABV cocktails, so those cutting down on alcohol don't need to cut down on fun. A standard 10 p.m. weekday closing time is a feature of Bend nightlife that has its fans and detractors, but there are several choice options to keep the party going 'after hours.' Among them, San Simón is a romantically dusky lounge located off Tin Pan Alley (next to the indie movie theater of the same name). The drinks, such as the locally inspired Last Blockbuster (jalapeño-infused tequila and Mexican grapefruit soda), compete for your attention alongside the large shrine to the legend of Saint Simón, 'the patron saint of debauchery.' Bend is spoiled for great coffee hangs to get the day buzzing. The bright and airy Sparrow Bakery has full breakfast options to pair with its legendary pastry, which is called an Ocean Roll — a fluffy cinnamon bun but with cardamom and vanilla, served warm. Looney Bean is a cute wooden cabin of a coffee shop with lawn seating that stretches down to the river's edge while you sip a chai-espresso Dirty Hippy. On a recent bright spring morning, Looney Bean staff and customers shared their exploits at a recent local music festival, of which Bend hosts many. And the cozy-hued Lone Pine Coffee Roasters downtown, with apple pie among its pastry options, lets fresh air into its stuffed leather-couch seating when its garage door is open. The Podski food cart lot is an ideal introduction to Bend's strong food truck game. This particular postcard-sized picnic area has a bar and a large wood-burning outdoor heater. Friends in matching bike outfits, out-of-towners and families all mingle over pierogies, Thai dishes, cheesecake, Italian street food, oysters and a quirky vending machine selling magic tricks, romance novels, sunscreen, rose-colored glasses and whoopee cushions. The plant-based Toasty food truck is a stand-out lunch choice; their Buffalo (faux) chick'n crunchwrap is pure mouth joy. 'The many food truck pods are a nice bonus to the overall vibe of Bend, where people with different tastes can coalesce in an outdoor space,' said Toasty owner Brooke Preim-Tobias. 'The food is often more affordable and you can soak up some sun while you eat and drink.' Mondo Pizza, which can start getting crowded as soon as they open at 11 a.m., makes for a great fuel stop to explore downtown, where a bookstore cafe (Dudley's) sits next to a wool shop, next to a store that specializes in crystals and advertises tarot readings. The colorful and justly popular El Sancho Taco Shop Westside takes the food truck spirit to the next level. The small kitchen and patio seating create a convivial space from which to enjoy excellent tacos and tamales alongside freshly squeezed margaritas. And a high-end representation of the trend in buzzy chefs hanging their shingle in Bend, is the neo-cowboy steakhouse, Hawkeye & Huckleberry Lounge, near El Sancho on the Westside. Chef Brian Malarkey (of 'Top Chef' fame) and his brother James have created a nearly theatrical space with Chinese lanterns hanging over the big bar; cowboy-themed wallpaper, Western photos, cowboy hats and guitars adorning the walls; and large private tables under tents. Signature drinks at Hawkeye include the bourbon-led Doc Holliday and a lavender gin concoction topped in a barista-like floral froth design called the Goodbye Earl. Beyond the steak options, the kitchen is known for its woodfired pizza, cast iron mac & cheese, beef fat fries and creamy Campfire Cornbread. It's high-end dining, for sure, but Bend is such a casual town that it's as appropriate to wear a flannel shirt and Vans as a button-down shirt and jacket. Bend is still growing and evolving. The restaurant and bar scenes are playing one-upmanship, each new spot trying to outshine what came before. The Eastside is in a revival, and downtown is expanding into what's being called the Bend Central District. Recreation options are becoming more accessible, with more kayak launches being built for the river and new adaptive mountain biking trails designed for those with mobility limitations. Whenever you visit Bend, there is going to be a new, hip place to go, mixed with the classics. That popularity does come at a price — the need for reservations at many restaurants now, for example, and crowded parking lots at nearby lakes. Bend's remoteness, while part of its appeal, also means that getting there takes some effort. Portland is the nearest major city, and it's more than a 3-hour drive away. Redmond Airport, just outside Bend, has direct flights to and from cities such as Portland, Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles, but travelers coming from most other cities will have to take a connecting flight. But with a little determination — in the true spirit of the West — you can access this wondrous expanse of nature and the town that grew up inside it. Bend is an outdoors playground with a deep appreciation for the finer things in life. This seafaring town brings the past to life
Yahoo
17-06-2025
- Yahoo
Aerial search for Travis Decker appears to slow as investigation continues in Chelan County
This story was originally posted on Nearly three weeks after the bodies of three young girls were discovered at a remote campground west of Leavenworth, the once-intense search for their father and suspected killer, Travis Decker, appears to have slowed its fervent pace. Over the weekend, the U.S. Marshal's Office, which recently took over search operations, did not fly King County Sheriff's Office helicopters or the Washington State Patrol's infrared-equipped Cessna, which flew repeated nighttime missions during the first week. Marshals were also using drones to look for signs of Decker. However, emails to Department of Justice officials to confirm if those flights continue have gone unanswered. The shift doesn't necessarily suggest a reduction in urgency or available leads as investigators continue the manhunt into increasingly remote terrain. However, it could signal a new tactic after the U.S. Forest Service reopened multiple trails in and around that area of the Cascade Mountain Range. Last week, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said more hikers will mean more eyes to possibly spot Decker or other evidence and more tips for law enforcement to respond to quickly. 'Our tactics continue,' Morrison said during a recent press conference. 'We're just heading in a different direction.' Monday marked the beginning of week three in the official search for Decker, a former Army Ranger believed to have received survival training during his military service. Authorities have scoured hundreds of square miles across mountainous terrain, lakes, and rivers near Leavenworth and the Enchantments—a popular rugged area of tall peaks and picturesque alpine lakes. While the Chelan County Sheriff's Office confirmed it has handed over all active search operations to federal agencies, while local deputies and prosecutors remain in charge of the criminal investigation. 'All we need is one mistake and one favor—I hope he's watching,' Morrison said. 'Mr. Decker is going to be the one to determine how this is going to end. We've encouraged him time and time again to give up and to give up peacefully.' Details released last week shed light on the crime scene. Autopsies confirmed that the three girls—discovered at a secluded campsite 18 miles west of Leavenworth—died by suffocation. Investigators classified the case as a triple homicide. Deputies reported finding each girl with a plastic bag over her head, along with more plastic bags strewn around the campsite and inside Decker's abandoned truck. Authorities said they recovered personal items from Decker's vehicle, and blood samples taken from the site matched his DNA. Other samples collected were determined to be non-human. Decker's dog was also found at the campsite and has since been turned over to a local humane society. Flight tracking data from Sunday, a week ago, showed a Washington State Patrol Cessna circling the Enchantments—an isolated alpine region south of the crime scene—from about 10:30 p.m. to 1:30 a.m. The next morning, helicopters from King County and the Washington National Guard resumed sweeps of the area, which has remained closed to the public for more than a week. Still, the frequency and visibility of such flights have declined from earlier in the search, when air activity was nearly constant day and night. At one point, investigators said Decker may have been planning to flee the country. A federal affidavit filed by U.S. Marshals revealed Decker had recently searched Google for how to 'relocate to Canada' and looked up jobs there just four days before picking up his daughters from their mother's home in Wenatchee. Decker was supposed to return the girls that same day, but he never showed up. A judge had revoked his overnight custodial rights in September 2024 due to homelessness and unpaid child support. Authorities launched a search when the family reported the girls missing, leading to the discovery of their bodies the following Monday. 'We have not given up,' Morrison said. 'We remain committed. We will not stop.'
The Sun
13-06-2025
- The Sun
Eerie Travis Decker ‘sighting' as hikers ‘come face to face with dad who killed 3 daughters' before helicopter swoops in
THE man accused of killing his three young daughters is believed to be hiking alone as cops close in on him. A hiking group saw a "lone hiker" believed to be Travis Decker, 32, prompting cops to send a helicopter to search the wilderness where the eerie sighting occurred. 9 9 9 Decker has been on the loose for over a week after he allegedly suffocated his three daughters, all under the age of 10, to death during a planned custody visit on May 30. He left the girls' bodies, his dog, and his truck at a campground in Washington state as he's believed to have taken off on foot. Authorities recently received a tip from a hiking party who spotted a man hiking alone near the Enchantments, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said on Tuesday. The Enchantments is a popular backpacking area in the picturesque wilderness in Washington's Cascade Mountain Range. The hiker "appeared to be ill prepared for trail and weather conditions, and appeared to be avoiding others," CCSO said in a Facebook post. Tracking teams responded immediately and sent in a chopper. The helicopter crew then spotted the hiker near a remote alpine lake called Colchuk Lake. The off-trail hiker sprinted out of sight as the helicopter passed, CCSO said. Cops believe this man was Decker. Authorities are asking any hikers who saw anything suspicious in the Enchantments in the past week to contact police. Eerie new video shows 'killer' dad Travis Decker as cops fear 'expert' soldier won't be caught for MONTHS after murders After the hiker ran, investigators followed a trail and deployed K-9s to the site, which tracked him to the Ingalls Creek Trailhead area. Cops warned people in the Ingalls Creek area to keep an eye out for Decker earlier this week, but have since said that residents are safe to move around. Federal teams joined the manhunt for Decker last week, and local authorities turned the search over to the feds on Sunday night. Decker is a veteran with extensive military training and experience surviving in the wilderness alone for months. CCSO's full statement On Tuesday, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office shared an update in the search for Travis Decker, who is accused of killing his three daughters. Tracking teams believe they are on Decker's trail, community support and tips are still needed! Law Enforcement have tracked a subject believed to be Decker into Blewett Pass/ HWY 97 area. We are asking for the public, especially those who live or have cabins in the area, to remain highly vigilant and report any suspicious activity. First off, we here at CCSO want to thank the countless hours spent on this search by men and women of law enforcement from a vast number of agencies across our region, state, and nation. The amount of work that has been accomplished thus far could not have happened without them and we are forever grateful. Our office recently received a tip from a hiking party who stated they spotted a lone hiker in the Enchantments area who appeared to be ill prepared for trail and weather conditions, and appeared to be avoiding others. Tracking teams immediately acted upon the information and spotted a lone, off trail hiker from a helicopter near Colchuck Lake who ran from sight as the helicopter passed. Additional assets were called to the area while they developed a plan to track the individual. Teams later picked up a trail and deployed K9s to the area, tracking the subject to the area of Ingalls Creek Trailhead on HWY 97. HIKERS: If you have been in the Enchantments area within the last week and have seen anything suspicious, please contact the tip line with any information you may have. Additionally, if you were a solo hiker in the area recently, please contact the tip line immediately with your information so investigators can follow up with you. As the search continues in the area, we are asking that anyone who may have a cabin, or reside in the area report any suspicious activity, lock your doors and vehicles, and look out for your neighbor's property. If you have any cameras, including trail cameras in the area, please check them or submit a tip to the US Marshal's tip line with a location of the camera for law enforcement to check. While federal agencies lead the continued searched, CCSO detectives remain strongly engaged on the murder investigation, processing evidence and tracking down more potential evidence to build a strong case for prosecution. We want to sincerely thank the hard work of our Detective Division led by Sgt. Lewis, and East Cascade SWAT Team led by Sgt. Frank, Sgt. Foreman and Deputy Eakle, who have put in several hundred combined hours of work since locating Evelyn, Paityn, and Olivia deceased on June 2, 2025. For our citizens and communities, we are grateful for the outpouring of support you have given to all of our members. A special thank you to the Wenatchee Blue Family, Soup Ladies, and other local entities that have provided all the law enforcement personnel with meals, snacks, drinks, coffee, bug spray, sun screen, and other countless essential items that keep us moving. We also want to thank Governor Ferguson for authorizing the National Guard to assist with the search. For clarification, they are providing air assets to fly in support of the search and logistical support to search teams. CCSO remains steadfast in our commitment to conduct a thorough investigation and the capture of Mr. Decker. United States Border Patrol has taken over operations and command for the search of Mr. Decker. Under their direction, they are continuing to follow up on tips from the community while working closely with other federal entities while we, along with our regional partners, remain available to assist where it is needed. We ask that the public report tips regarding Mr. Decker's whereabouts to the US Marshal's Service via their tip line and website, which is below. The United States Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading directly to Travis DECKER's arrest. The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous. If you see Travis Decker, please call 911 immediately and do not attempt or contact or approach him. Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips at Sheriff Morrison, along with a representative from the US Marshal's Service, will be conducting a press conference at the Chelan County Courthouse stairs on 6/11/2025 at 4 pm. Source: CCSO He was an infantryman in the US Army from 2013 to 2021. In 2014, he was deployed to Afghanistan for four months. Cops warned the public about his survival and navigation skills due to his training. He once spent two and a half months living off the grid, which sparked fears that the search for him could last months. 9 9 9 Anyone who sees Decker is told not to approach him as he's dangerous. It's unclear if he's armed. The manhunt has covered hundreds of miles since June 2, when Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were found at a campsite outside Leavenworth. The girls had been bound with zip ties and had plastic bags over their heads, cops said. Decker had failed to return the girls to their mom, Whitney Decker, after what was supposed to be a scheduled custody visit three days earlier. Timeline of the missing Decker girls Paityn Decker, 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, were found dead at a campground after they were last seen on a custody visit to their dad. Below is a timeline of events: Monday, May 26 Travis Decker searches online for "how does a person move to Canada," a Canadian job website, and "how does a person move to Canada." Thursday, May 29 Decker's cell activity shows that he drove to and from the Rock Island Campground. Friday, May 30 5 pm - The three girls are picked up from their mom's house by their dad. 8 pm - Decker is supposed to return the girls but doesn't. Their mom's calls to him go straight to voicemail. 9:45 pm - Whitney Decker calls the Wenatchee Police Department to report her daughters missing. Decker's truck is seen driving westbound on Highway 2. Washington State Patrol is contacted for an Amber Alert but said the situation didn't match their criteria. Saturday, May 31 WPD issues an Endangered Missing Persons Alert. Monday, June 2 3:45 pm - Decker's truck is found empty with bloody adult-sized hand prints at Rock Island Campground. 5 pm - Cops search the area and find the bodies of the three girls. Tuesday, June 3 9:30 am - WPD notifies the public that they are still searching for Decker. 2 pm - WPD tells the public that the three girls were found dead and that Decker is still on the loose. Friday, June 6 The girls' autopsy report confirms that they died by suffocation. Sunday, June 8 6 pm - Chelan County Sheriff's Office hands the search for Decker to the federal authorities. Cops have faced backlash from authorities because they didn't issue an AMBER Alert for the girls after their mom reported them missing on May 30. However, officials responded they didn't think the siblings were in imminent danger because Decker had no history of violence toward the girls. Decker was homeless at the time of the alleged killings and was living out of his truck. 9 9 In September, Whitney filed a petition modifying her parenting plan with her ex-husband claiming that Decker's mental health had declined. She asked for permission to keep the girls from having overnight visits with Decker until he found housing. Whitney said Decker suffered from PTSD after his time in the military, and that his mental instability led to their divorce in 2022. However, Whitney insisted Decker was a good dad who had never failed to return the children after a scheduled visit until the tragedy. A GoFundMe for Whitney has now raised over $1 million.
CBS News
10-06-2025
- CBS News
Man's blood found at campsite where 3 young sisters found dead as search for their father continues in Washington state
Blood discovered at a campsite where three young Washington state sisters were found dead last week belonged to a male, authorities said Monday, as the search continued for their father, a former soldier with extensive survival skills. Investigators have been looking for Travis Caleb Decker, 32, since the night of May 30, when he failed to return the girls to their mother's home in Wenatchee, about 100 miles east of Seattle, after a scheduled visit. Three days later, a sheriff's deputy discovered the bodies of 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker and 5-year-old Olivia Decker down an embankment at a campsite in the Cascade Mountains. The campsite, west of Leavenworth, is about 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from the U.S.-Mexico border to the U.S.-Canada border. Decker has been charged with murder and kidnapping. According to a probable cause statement filed in Chelan County Superior Court last week, Decker's truck was left at the campsite, and it had two bloody handprints on the tailgate. In a news release Monday, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said tests revealed that one blood sample taken from the scene belonged to a male, and another turned out to be from an animal. The sheriff's office did not say whether the tested samples had been taken from the tailgate. DNA and fingerprint analyses are pending, the news release said. Decker's dog was also found alive at the scene and turned over to the humane society for care. Late Monday night, the sheriff's office said that search teams were looking for Decker in the area of Ingalls Creek and Valley High "as he is believed to potentially be in this area." "Please secure your homes and vehicles, stay alert, and report any suspicious activity to 911," the office said. New images released by sheriff's office over the weekend show tattoos on Decker's ankle and arms. Another photo of his right side appears to show him walking. Images of Travis Decker released by the Chelan County Sheriff's Office on June 7, 2025. Chelan County Sheriff's Office The sheriff's office said that while it is retaining command of the criminal investigation, it had turned over control of the search efforts to federal authorities to give its personnel time to rest. Officials have searched hundreds of square miles, much of it mountainous and remote, by land, water and air. Decker has also been charged in federal court with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. According to an affidavit filed by deputy U.S. marshal Keegan Stanley in that case, Decker has training in navigation, survival and other skills that make him "a very avid and well-versed outdoorsman." Decker once spent 2.5 months in the backwoods living off the grid, Stanley wrote, and in the days before he took the girls, he searched online for how to relocate to and find a job in Canada. Decker was an infantryman in the Army from March 2013 to July 2021 and deployed to Afghanistan for four months in 2014, according to Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Castro. From 2014 to 2016, he was an automatic rifleman with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. Last September his ex-wife, Whitney Decker, wrote in a petition to modify their parenting plan that his mental health issues had worsened and that he had become increasingly unstable, often living out of his truck. She sought to restrict him from having overnight visits with the girls until he found housing. An autopsy on Friday determined the cause of death to be suffocation, the sheriff's office said. The girls had been bound with zip ties and had plastic bags placed over their heads. Authorities have reopened popular camping and backpacking areas in the Icicle Creek area, near where the girls were discovered. Other trails in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area have reopened for day use but not camping. Last week, officials released recent Ring camera footage and photos of Decker as they seek help from the public in finding him. Authorities previously urged people who live or own cabins in remote areas of several Washington state counties to lock their doors. Decker is described as 5 feet, 8 inches tall and 190 pounds, with brown eyes and black hair.
The Independent
10-06-2025
- The Independent
Male blood found where 3 sisters in Washington were killed, while search for their father continues
Blood discovered at a campsite where three young Washington state sisters were found dead last week belonged to a male, authorities said Monday as the search continued for their father, a former soldier with extensive survival skills. Investigators have been looking for Travis Caleb Decker, 32, since the night of May 30, when he failed to return the girls to their mother's home in Wenatchee, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) east of Seattle, after a scheduled visit. Three days later, a sheriff's deputy discovered the bodies of 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker and 5-year-old Olivia Decker down an embankment at a campsite in the Cascade Mountains. The campsite, west of Leavenworth, is about 11 miles (18 km) from the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from the U.S.-Mexico border to the U.S.-Canada border. Decker has been charged with murder and kidnapping. According to a probable cause statement filed in Chelan County Superior Court last week, Decker's truck was left at the campsite, and it had two bloody handprints on the tailgate. In a news release Monday, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said tests revealed that one blood sample taken from the scene belonged to a male, and another turned out to be from an animal. The sheriff's office did not say whether the tested samples had been taken from the tailgate. DNA and fingerprint analyses are pending, the news release said. Decker's dog was also found alive at the scene and turned over to the humane society for care. The sheriff's office said that while it is retaining command of the criminal investigation, it had turned over control of the search efforts to federal authorities to give its personnel time to rest. Officials have searched hundreds of square miles, much of it mountainous and remote, by land, water and air. Decker has also been charged in federal court with unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. According to an affidavit filed by deputy U.S. marshal Keegan Stanley in that case, Decker has training in navigation, survival and other skills that make him 'a very avid and well-versed outdoorsman.' Decker once spent 2.5 months in the backwoods living off the grid, Stanley wrote, and in the days before he took the girls, he searched online for how to relocate to and find a job in Canada. Decker was an infantryman in the Army from March 2013 to July 2021 and deployed to Afghanistan for four months in 2014, according to Army spokesperson Lt. Col. Ruth Castro. From 2014 to 2016, he was an automatic rifleman with the 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. Last September his ex-wife, Whitney Decker, wrote in a petition to modify their parenting plan that his mental health issues had worsened and that he had become increasingly unstable, often living out of his truck. She sought to restrict him from having overnight visits with the girls until he found housing. An autopsy on Friday determined the cause of death to be suffocation, the sheriff's office said. The girls had been bound with zip ties and had plastic bags placed over their heads. Authorities have reopened popular camping and backpacking areas in the Icicle Creek area, near where the girls were discovered. Other trails in the Lake Chelan National Recreation Area have reopened for day use but not camping.
