Nearly two months after the bodies of his three young daughters were discovered at a remote campsite in Washington state, the manhunt for Travis Decker is still unresolved — and police have now issued a disappointing update.
Decker, 32, is wanted for the murders of Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5, after he failed to return the girls to their mother following a court-approved visit on May 30.
His truck was later discovered abandoned at the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. The girls were found dead nearby on June 2. Police say they believe they were asphyxiated.
"Insufficient information" to confirm whether Decker is dead or alive
On Friday, July 25, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office shared that despite an “exhaustive” manhunt across surrounding counties, there has been a significant “decrease in leads and tips” — prompting a reduction in the search effort’s footprint.
“As of today, Mr. Decker has still not been located, and there is insufficient information to suggest that he is alive, nor if he is deceased,” the sheriff's office said.
Sheriff Mike Morrison confirmed to PEOPLE: “Unless he's accounted for, there's still the potential that he could be alive and still actively fleeing from us. Right now, you're in a pretty leisurely time for our county that you could be outdoors and probably live decently comfortable."
He added: “The probability of him just surviving off foraging or trapping — not likely.”
Could someone be helping him?
Sheriff Morrison also acknowledged the troubling possibility that someone could be helping Decker avoid capture.
“Certainly, [there's the] potential that he could have someone that was just more sympathetic to him and is providing him assistance,” he told PEOPLE. “We put the message out that we don't think that's a wise decision, but we get that everyone's going to make their own choices.”
Morrison also said Decker may have hitched a ride out of the area.
“There are roads in the area that he could have made it to. And if someone wasn't paying attention, they might've provided a ride to him not knowing what he was associated with. Or maybe they did know, and they did provide him a ride,” he said.
Two sightings ruled out — and one online clue
The most recent search effort focused on the Blewett Pass area in the Wenatchee Mountains, where two sightings were reported — one in June and another in July. Both have since been ruled out as false alarms.
Officials have also noted that Decker may have researched how to flee to Canada. A US Marshals Service affidavit previously revealed he had searched “how to relocate to Canada” online prior to disappearing.
Investigators are still working through evidence and said they will respond to any new tips. In the meantime, the U.S. Marshals Service continues to offer a $20,000 reward for any information that leads directly to Decker’s arrest.
A long road ahead for investigators
The emotional weight of the case is evident. “We’re frustrated because, certainly, we'd like to have closure not only for our community, but for the family,” Morrison said. “And with the amount of resources we put in there, I was kind of hopeful that we would've gotten something.”
He warned the search may continue for years.
“We could be in a fight for five years, 10 years, 20 years. I certainly hope we're looking at a couple weeks and it closes out, but it could be a long time and we are committed to staying with it.”
Remembering Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia
The last time their mother, Whitney Decker, saw her daughters was the day Decker picked them up for their visit. Hours later, when he failed to return them, she reported them missing — and the tragic discovery came soon after.
At a memorial on June 20, Whitney Decker remembered her daughters’ bright spirits, stating: “I’m so thankful for that time I had with the girls. When the world slowed down, it gave me an inside look at their day."
"I truly hope that the legacy of the girls’ lives lives on in everyone’s heart forever. They were incredible," she added.
Whitney’s attorney, Arianna Cozart, has also told NewsNation that Whitney wants Decker found “dead or alive” to find peace.
“That’s a huge, a huge thing that she wants,” Cozart said. “It’s very, very important to her so that she can have peace.”
Cozart added Whitney believes systemic failures, including the handling of Decker’s mental health challenges and PTSD, contributed to the tragedy.
“The courts didn’t fail these girls. It wasn’t the judge and it wasn’t Whitney; it was our system. [Whitney] feels like the system really let Travis down.”
Authorities urge the public not to approach Decker if spotted. He is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping, and is considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information is asked to call 911 immediately.