Shirt found near suspected remains ties case of man wanted for murdering his three daughters; Washington Amber Alert law under scrutiny

CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. — A shirt confirmed to have been worn by Travis Decker, the Army veteran wanted in the June murder of his three daughters, was found near remains at a remote site along the Icicle River drainage, authorities said Friday. Law enforcement officials said they used AI-powered drones to scan the area and detected an anomaly that led search teams to clothing matching Decker's description, though investigators have not yet confirmed a DNA link to the remains.

Officials also reported discovering additional remains at the scene, including two feet, several femurs, and vertebrae, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said at a news conference. Investigators found Army Ranger shorts, a bracelet Decker was known to wear, and his brand of chewing tobacco at the site. There is still no DNA confirmation that the remains belong to Decker. The killings are believed to have occurred on June 2, with Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, found with plastic bags tied over their heads near their father’s pickup truck.

"We found additional body parts today to include two feet, some femurs, and also some vertebrates," Morrison said, outlining the latest discoveries. At the same briefing, he added, "I am confirming the shirt that we saw on scene is a match for what Travis was last seen wearing."

Decker is described by investigators as a homeless veteran. The three girls were found dead near their father’s vehicle after a manhunt that stretched across multiple jurisdictions and days of searching. While law enforcement have tied the scene elements to Decker through clothing and items recovered at the site, officials emphasized that DNA confirmation remains pending and that the investigation continues to determine the exact sequence of events.

Whitney Decker, the girls’ mother, said she hopes the case spurs changes to Washington state’s Amber Alert laws. She has urged lawmakers and authorities to consider adjustments that could improve alert timeliness in cases involving family members and suspects with known ties to law enforcement, though no specific legislative proposal was outlined in Friday’s briefing. The position highlights a broader policy conversation about how Amber Alerts are triggered and disseminated in family-violence cases, particularly when a suspect is a loved one or someone with a documented history of risk.

The state and federal authorities involved in the search have stressed that the investigation remains open and that identity confirmation is contingent on forensic results. In the meantime, the case has drawn renewed attention to public safety procedures and the role of alert systems in fast-moving, family-bound tragedies. As investigators continue to process evidence at the Icicle River site, officials said they are pursuing all leads and awaiting confirmatory DNA analysis to finalize the linkage between Decker and the recovered remains. The case has also raised questions about how Amber Alerts are deployed in complex family-murder scenarios, a topic that is likely to reemerge in policy discussions across Washington state.

As the search continues and authorities work to confirm both the identity and the circumstances surrounding the deaths, residents in the region watch closely. The investigation is ongoing, and officials have cautioned against premature conclusions while they await additional forensic results. The broader public safety implications—particularly the potential changes to Amber Alert protocols—will likely dominate discussions as more information becomes available.