Remains Believed to Be Travis Decker Found in Washington State

Authorities in Washington state have discovered human remains believed to be those of Travis Decker, a former soldier wanted in connection with the deaths of his three daughters. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office announced Thursday that the remains were found in a remote wooded area south of Leavenworth.

"While positive identification has not yet been confirmed, preliminary findings suggest the remains belong to Travis Decker," the sheriff's office stated.

Decker, 32, had been sought since June 2, when authorities found his truck and the bodies of his daughters—9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia—near a campground outside Leavenworth.

The girls' mother reported them missing on May 30 after Decker failed to return them following a scheduled visit. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be suffocation, with the girls found bound with zip ties and plastic bags over their heads.

Decker served as an infantryman in the Army from March 2013 to July 2021, including a deployment to Afghanistan in 2014. Authorities noted his training in navigation and survival skills, highlighting his ability to live off the grid for extended periods.

The discovery of the remains follows an extensive search involving over 100 officials from various state and federal agencies, covering hundreds of square miles of mountainous terrain. The U.S. Marshals Service had offered a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Decker's capture.

In September 2024, Decker's ex-wife, Whitney Decker, petitioned to modify their parenting plan, citing concerns over his worsening mental health and increasing instability. She sought to restrict overnight visits until he secured stable housing.

The Chelan County Sheriff's Office is collaborating with the Washington State Patrol's crime scene response team to process the site and will conduct DNA analysis to confirm the identity of the remains.