- Police have scaled back the nationwide manhunt for Travis Decker, the Washington father accused of murdering his three daughters. As the case stalls, authorities continue pursuing leads while confirming they lack evidence of whether Decker is dead or alive.
WENATCHEE, WA (TDR) — Nearly two months after three young girls were found dead in a remote campground in central Washington, authorities have announced they are scaling back the search for their suspected killer — their own father.
Last Day Seen With Their Father
Travis Decker, 32, has been on the run since May 30, the day he picked up his daughters — Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5 — from his ex-wife’s home for what was supposed to be a routine visit. He never returned.
Their mother, Whitney Decker, reported the girls missing when they failed to come home. Days later, in a heartbreaking discovery, the bodies of the three children were found at Rock Island Campground in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
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Authorities said the cause of death was asphyxiation, and Decker was immediately named a suspect. He has since been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
“It was the last time I saw them,” Whitney told reporters. “They were so excited to go camping with their dad.”
Nationwide Manhunt Stalls
Decker has eluded capture since the discovery of the bodies, prompting a nationwide manhunt that has so far proven fruitless. Despite multiple search efforts, law enforcement officials admitted on Friday, July 25, that progress has slowed.
“We’re reducing our footprint while the criminal investigation remains ongoing,” the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement, according to ABC News.
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The decision comes after a decline in viable leads and tips. Investigators recently searched the Blewett Pass area in the Wenatchee Mountains, but say any evidence found there was inconclusive.
“Potential evidence and intelligence gathered in this area are inconclusive, meaning we cannot confirm any of the information is directly associated with Mr. Decker,” the department added.
Is Decker Still Alive?
Authorities remain uncertain whether Decker is still alive. As PEOPLE reports, law enforcement said:
“As of today [July 25], Mr. Decker has still not been located, and there is insufficient information to suggest that he is alive, nor if he is deceased.”
Despite the lack of confirmation, Sheriff Mike Morrison says the commitment to finding Decker has not wavered.
“We could be in a fight for five years, 10 years, 20 years,” Morrison told ABC News. “I certainly hope we’re looking at a couple weeks and it closes out, but it could be a long time.”
$20,000 Reward Offered
The U.S. Marshals Service is now offering a $20,000 reward for information that leads directly to Decker’s arrest. Anyone who spots him is urged to call 911 immediately.
As the investigation continues, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office reiterated that its detectives remain “actively engaged in processing evidence” and will pursue any new leads.
Will justice be served — or will this father vanish into America’s wilderness forever?
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