Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, were found suffocated at a remote Washington campsite. Their father has been charged with murder and kidnapping
NEED TO KNOW
- Authorities believe they have tracked Travis Decker, who is accused of killing his three daughters, to the Blewett Pass in Washington after a weeklong manhunt
- The girls — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 — were found suffocated at a remote campground on June 2
- Decker was previously charged in absentia with three counts of first-degree murder and one count of kidnapping
Travis Decker, the Washington father accused of murdering his three young daughters during a court-ordered visit, has been allegedly tracked following a nationwide manhunt that spanned over a week and involved multiple law enforcement agencies, authorities confirmed on Tuesday, June 10.
Decker, 32, is currently believed to have been tracked to the Blewett Pass area near Highway 97 in Washington, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said in a press release shared with PEOPLE. He has yet to be apprehended.
“Our office recently received a tip from a hiking party who stated they spotted a lone hiker in the Enchantments area who appeared to be ill prepared for trail and weather conditions, and appeared to be avoiding others,” police said.
“Tracking teams immediately acted upon the information and spotted a lone, off trail hiker from a helicopter near Colchuck Lake who ran from sight as the helicopter passed,” the CCSO added. “Additional assets were called to the area while they developed a plan to track the individual. Teams later picked up a trail and deployed K9s to the area, tracking the subject to the area of Ingalls Creek Trailhead on HWY 97.”
Police say anyone who has been camping in the area within the last week and noticed anything suspicious should call the tip line.
Decker is wanted in connection with the deaths of Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5 — three sisters found deceased at a remote campsite near the Cascade Mountains on June 2.
The girls had been reported missing by their mother, Whitney Decker, on May 30, after their father, Travis, failed to return them following a court-ordered visitation. Hours later, police located Travis’ abandoned truck at the Rock Island Campground.
Inside a tent nearby, they made a grim discovery: all three sisters, deceased.
All three children had been suffocated, and a coroner ruled their deaths homicides, according to a probable cause affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
Travis was charged with three counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree kidnapping and custodial interference.
Authorities believed Decker may have fled on foot and attempted to cross into Canada after he allegedly searched “how to relocate to Canada” online. A $20,000 reward was offered for information leading to his arrest. The U.S. Marshal Service, along with local and state agencies, coordinated a wide-ranging search.
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At the time of the murders, Decker and Whitney were in the midst of a divorce, and Whitney had been granted full custody. She previously expressed concern for the girls’ safety and had reportedly petitioned to restrict unsupervised visitation.
The case has drawn national attention and an outpouring of support for the Decker family. A GoFundMe campaign organized on Whitney’s behalf has raised over $1 million to cover funeral costs and other expenses.
Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia were remembered by loved ones as “bright, creative, and deeply loved.”
As Decker is yet to be apprehended, no plea has been entered at this time.
If you suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org. All calls are toll-free and confidential. The hotline is available 24/7 in more than 170 languages.
