In a chilling end to a harrowing three-month search, authorities in Chelan County, Washington, have confirmed that human remains discovered on Sept. 18 belong to Travis Decker, a father accused of murdering his three young daughters, as the New York Post reports.
The confirmation of Decker's death through DNA testing closes a tragic case that began with the discovery of his daughters' bodies in early June and culminated in the recovery of his remains near the crime scene.
The tragedy unfolded on June 2, when the bodies of Decker's daughters -- Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 -- were found near his truck at Rock Island Campground.
The girls had plastic bags over their heads and zip ties around their wrists, painting a grim picture of their final moments.
Decker had taken them from their Wenatchee home three days earlier for a planned visit, despite having only limited custody following a divorce from his wife, Whitney, a few years prior.
Whitney’s lawyer, Arianna Cozart, noted that Decker’s mental health had been deteriorating since leaving the Army Rangers, with insufficient support from veteran services.
“What Whitney believes is that the girls would still be alive if our veteran system and the mental health resources available to our veterans, was adequately funded,” Cozart said.
Whitney also told detectives that during their last visit, Decker seemed “quieter than usual, which was out of character” for him.
After the girls were reported missing, no Amber Alert was issued by the Washington State Patrol, prompting Whitney to call for reforms to the system.
Following the discovery of the girls’ bodies, a manhunt for Decker ensued, complicated by the rugged terrain of Chelan County.
Authorities believe Decker used his military and mountain survival skills to live off the grid, possibly intending to flee to Canada, as evidenced by online searches revealed in an affidavit by Deputy U.S. Marshal Keegan Stanley.
The girls’ bodies were found just 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a route leading to the border, further supporting this theory.
On Sept. 18, Decker’s remains were finally located in the Icicle River drainage, less than a mile from where his daughters were found, in a remote wooded area south of Leavenworth.
AI-powered drones detected anomalies in the challenging terrain, leading to the recovery of clothing matching what Decker was last seen wearing, along with partial remains, including two feet, femurs, and vertebrae.
While U.S. Marshals initially announced Decker’s death based solely on the clothing, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison later confirmed the identity through DNA, stating, “He is deceased, our DNA results confirm that, and that brings a close to this case.”
