U.S. Marshals Declare Travis Decker Deceased Amid Awaited DNA Confirmation

The U.S. Marshals Service has declared Travis Decker, a 32-year-old former Army soldier accused of murdering his three daughters, deceased. This declaration was made in a court filing seeking to dismiss the case and quash the arrest warrant for Decker.

Human remains believed to be Decker's were discovered on September 18 in a remote wooded area near Leavenworth, Washington, less than a mile from where the bodies of his daughters—9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia—were found in June. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office reported that the remains were located off a beaten path, and items found at the scene, including clothing and personal belongings, matched those associated with Decker.

Despite the Marshals Service's declaration, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office stated that DNA confirmation is still pending. Sheriff Mike Morrison emphasized the need for careful handling of the evidence and noted that the remains showed signs of animal disturbance. Authorities are working with the Washington State Patrol's crime lab to expedite DNA testing and plan to hold a press conference once results are available.

Decker had been the subject of a nationwide manhunt since June, after failing to return his daughters following a scheduled visit. The girls were found suffocated at a campground near Leavenworth, with autopsies confirming their cause of death as asphyxiation. Decker, who had extensive military training in navigation and survival, had been living out of his truck and was considered armed and dangerous during the search.