In the ongoing search for Travis Decker, a fugitive father and primary suspect in the murder of his three young daughters, authorities have discovered bones. The discovery was made during a two-day search operation in campgrounds near Leavenworth, Washington. The operation involved over 100 FBI agents from Seattle and local law enforcement. This marks the first significant breakthrough in a nationwide manhunt that has been ongoing since early summer.
Decker, a former Army serviceman with extensive survival training, has managed to evade capture for three months. The search for Decker began on June 2, after he failed to return his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, to their mother following a scheduled visit. The bodies of the children were later discovered near Rock Island Campground along Icicle Creek, each with a bag over their head. Autopsies revealed that the children had died from suffocation, and their deaths were ruled as homicides.
While it is yet to be confirmed if the bones found are human, they have been sent to the anthropology department at Central Washington University for forensic testing. The aim is to determine if they could be linked to Decker. The FBI has stated that several items have been recovered and are being examined to ascertain if they are related to the investigation. However, final results are expected to take some time.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison has stated that if the evidence warrants further investigation, law enforcement will act accordingly. At present, there is no definitive information regarding whether Decker is alive or deceased.
Sheriff Morrison also addressed the discovery of potential remains, noting that factors such as wildlife activity and environmental exposure make it rare to recover a complete skeleton. He stated that if a skeleton were to be found, it would likely be in bits and pieces due to wildlife scattering the remains.
To date, authorities have searched 247 acres in three major sweeps. Sheriff Morrison has indicated that additional campground and trail closures are likely as investigators continue to expand their search efforts. Another large-scale search, in coordination with federal partners, is planned for September.
Neither the FBI Seattle nor the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office has responded to requests for comment on the ongoing investigation.