Authorities in Washington say remains believed to belong to a man accused of killing his three young daughters earlier this summer have been discovered in a remote forest.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed Thursday that human remains, believed to be those of 32-year-old Travis Decker, were located south of Leavenworth during an ongoing search.
Officials said DNA testing will be conducted to confirm the identity.
Who is Travis Decker?
Travis Decker had been the subject of a manhunt since June 2, when his daughters — Evelyn, 8, Paityn, 9, and Olivia, 5 — were found dead near a campground east of Seattle. His white pickup truck was discovered at the site.
According to court documents, the children were zip-tied and had plastic bags over their heads.
A preliminary examination determined they most likely died from asphyxiation. Investigators also noted two bloody handprints on Decker’s abandoned truck.
Decker, described by authorities as a military veteran, National Guardsman, and longtime outdoorsman, had not been seen since.
Three weeks into the search, law enforcement acknowledged they believed he may have died in the wilderness.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office previously reported that someone matching Decker’s description was spotted by helicopter after a hiking group saw a man “who appeared unprepared for the trail and the weather and appeared to be avoiding others.”
He fled when seen but was later tracked by dogs to a nearby trailhead.
The mother of Travis Decker's three children
Travis Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney Decker, told investigators he was homeless and dealing with mental health struggles at the time of the killings.
The pair had divorced after seven years of marriage, and a parenting plan filed in September 2024 required Decker to undergo counseling for mental health and domestic violence — conditions he refused to meet.
When Decker failed to return the girls after a scheduled visit, Whitney contacted Wenatchee police. That call triggered the search that ended in the discovery of their bodies.
In the days following, she called for reforms to the Amber Alert system, criticizing the decision not to issue one when police first raised concerns.
Whitney later addressed thousands of mourners at a public vigil, telling them per KGNS News: "They were incredible. I truly hope that the legacy of the girls’ lives lives in everyone’s heart."
Authorities say DNA testing on the newly discovered remains could take several weeks.