Authorities in Washington state say Travis Decker is the only suspect in the suffocation deaths of his three daughters after new DNA evidence was confirmed.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that DNA found on plastic bags and cable ties matched Decker. Each victim—5-year-old Olivia, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 9-year-old Paityn—was discovered with multiple bags over their heads near a Cascades campsite. No other DNA was recovered at the scene.
The Tragedy Unfolds
The girls were reported missing in late May when Decker failed to return them after a court-ordered visit. Days later, their bodies were located about 100 yards from Decker’s abandoned truck at Rock Island Campground. Investigators also recovered plastic bags, zip ties, and a bloody fingerprint.
A Challenging Manhunt
Decker, an Army veteran with survival training, vanished into the rugged wilderness with a three-day head start. Search teams have used drones, cadaver dogs, and swift-water crews, but his whereabouts remain unknown.
“We do not have any evidence to suggest Travis Decker is either alive or deceased,” the sheriff’s office said.
Reward for Capture
The U.S. Marshals Service has offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to Decker’s arrest. Authorities hope that with more hikers and campers in the area during summer, someone may spot him.
For more updates on this tragic story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.