Remains Believed to Be Travis Decker Found After Months-Long Washington Manhunt

Remains believed to be Travis Decker were located Thursday as investigators concluded a three-month search for the Army veteran accused of murdering his three young daughters near a rural Washington campsite. Authorities said the body was recovered in the Icicle River drainage in Chelan County, and the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab would perform the official identification once results are available. The three victims — Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5 — were found June 2 near Decker’s pickup after he had taken them for a planned visitation from their Wenatchee home, according to court filings and law enforcement disclosures. Preliminary investigations indicated the sisters likely died from asphyxiation. Their mother, Whitney Decker, told detectives that Travis Decker was quieter than usual in the days leading up to their disappearance, a sign she described as out of character during a custody arrangement that had already limited his access to the children.

The bodies of the girls were found near Decker’s truck in a remote area not far from the Pacific Crest Trail, a detail that investigators have emphasized in describing how the search for Decker had stretched into the wilderness as authorities warned he could be dangerous and potentially anywhere in the nation. Investigators also noted Decker’s military background, including survival training, and described the couple’s separation as civil at the time of the custody dispute, with Decker’s access to the children restricted after concerns about his stability.

The investigation has centered on whether Decker traveled or planned to relocate, and prosecutors or police have not ruled out the possibility that he fled to avoid prosecution. Online records reviewed by investigators showed Decker had searched for information on relocating to Canada and for Canadian job opportunities in the weeks before he disappeared, and authorities said he had previously used wilderness skills learned in the Army. Authorities also noted that the Pacific Crest Trail lies within miles of the search area, which has led to continued concerns that Decker could be traversing remote regions as investigators pursue leads. A reward of $20,000 was offered for information leading to his arrest as the manhunt persisted across multiple counties and federal partners.

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In the days after the discovery of the girls’ bodies, investigators publicly released Ring doorbell footage depicting Decker in the hours prior to the deaths and disclosed that he had previously been seen in or near the area. Sheriff Mike Morrison of Chelan County told reporters that investigators believed the remains could be Decker’s based on clothing and other evidence recovered at the scene. In the months that followed, authorities conducted extensive searches of remote areas, closed some backcountry access and urged the public to report any sightings or information that might help locate Decker, who was described as dangerous and potentially on the run.

The case has drawn attention to veteran mental health resources and related public-safety procedures. Whitney Decker has advocated for changes to Washington’s Amber Alert system, arguing that a timely alert might have increased the likelihood of locating her daughters alive. Her attorney has described a difficulty in accessing mental health support for veterans and has called for improvements to the system that tracks missing children in the critical hours after a disappearance.

A new development emerged on September 19, 2025, as police announced they had found remains in a remote wooded area south of Leavenworth, Washington, during the ongoing search. While identification has not yet been confirmed, early findings suggested the remains could belong to Travis Decker, who had been on the run since early June after the alleged killings. Decker’s reported survival skills and knowledge of off-grid living were cited by investigators as factors that could have aided his flight from authorities, and the case's timeline has prompted renewed calls for procedural reviews around missing-child alerts and the resources available to veterans in crisis. Authorities stressed that official confirmation would come from the state crime lab once tests are completed and fingerprints or DNA analysis are compared.

The investigation continues to unfold as officials work to confirm the identity of the remains and to determine the full sequence of events surrounding the June incident. Public safety officials have urged anyone with information to come forward, noting that the case remains a top priority for multiple agencies across the region. The broader community, already shaken by the tragedy, waits for clarifications from investigators as the case moves toward resolution.