Police have shared a major update in the search for Travis Decker, the former soldier accused of killing his three young daughters during a scheduled visit in Washington state.
As previously reported, Decker, 32, failed to return nine-year-old Paityn, eight-year-old Evelyn, and five-year-old Olivia Decker to their mother after a court-approved custody exchange.
Their bodies were discovered shortly after at a remote campsite near Leavenworth, along with Decker’s truck, triggering a state-wide manhunt and a flurry of public tips.
Roughly a week later, hikers in the area reported seeing a man who resembled Decker, prompting a surge of search efforts across the rugged terrain of Washington’s backcountry.
But now, authorities say that those early leads have grown cold, and they no longer believe there’s any solid evidence that Decker is still alive, The Independent reports.
In a sobering statement released via social media, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office said (via KCBY): “There is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area.
"Seemingly strong early leads gave way to less convincing proofs over the last two weeks of searching.
"Still, we can’t and won’t quit this search; Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker deserve justice. And Decker remains a danger to the public as long as he’s at large.”
The terrain in question, steep, remote, and largely uninhabited, poses extreme survival challenges.
Police believe that even someone with Decker’s military background would struggle to remain hidden and alive for long.
“Because of the ruggedness, the remoteness of that country, and some of the conditions that we’ve observed,” said Sheriff’s Inspector Chris Whitsett, per CBS, “the longer anybody stays out there, the greater the chance that something’s going to happen, and whether he intends it or not, that he’s going to die.”
Decker served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army from 2013 to 2021. Authorities believe it’s possible he could have escaped the area, but acknowledge he was ill-equipped and likely on foot.
In case he did leave, the U.S. Marshals Service is actively involved in the manhunt, and extra patrols have been deployed throughout the region.
Search teams, now including cadaver dogs trained to detect human remains, have expanded their efforts into even more remote zones, including abandoned cabins, caves, and old mining sites, USA Today reports.
The area is laced with rugged backcountry trails, including access to the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from Canada to Mexico.
Authorities have asked the public to remain vigilant, especially those living near wilderness areas or with remote properties.
They’ve urged residents to check trail cameras and report anything unusual.
“We’re relying on tips from the public,” the sheriff’s office added. “This search isn’t over.”