A tragic tale of shattered trust and vanishing truth deepens as the manhunt for Travis Decker, the father accused of murdering his three young daughters, stretches past one month. In a chilling turn, DNA found on bloody handprints at the Washington crime scene now ties Decker directly to the killings. As rescue teams, drones, and cadaver dogs scour the wilderness, hope flickers and fear lingers. With no proof of life or death, and a $20,000 reward still on the table, the nation watches—gripped by a haunting silence that refuses to fade.
STORY HIGHLIGHTS
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Travis Decker, father of three, accused of triple homicide and kidnapping
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Victims: Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5) Decker
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Bodies found on June 2 near Rock Island Campground, Washington
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DNA on bloody handprints links Decker directly to the scene
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Truck abandoned near bodies, no signs of other suspects
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Search ongoing with drones, cadaver dogs, and rescue teams
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$20,000 reward offered by U.S. Marshals for information
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Authorities uncertain if Decker is alive or deceased
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Public urged to call 911 with any tips or sightings
As the calendar flips past the one-month mark since the tragic discovery of three young girls near a Washington state campground, new developments have surfaced in the ongoing manhunt for their father, Travis Decker — the primary suspect in what authorities are now calling a “deliberate and deeply disturbing” case of familial homicide.
The bodies of Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, just 5 years old, were found near Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington, on June 2 — days after they were reported to have gone missing during a court-sanctioned visitation with their father on May 30. Since then, a multi-agency search has been underway across the rugged wilderness and surrounding areas where the tragedy occurred.
In a significant breakthrough this week, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office announced that DNA recovered from bloody handprints on the tailgate of Decker’s truck has matched the profile they believe belongs to the 5-foot-8 fugitive.
“We can now confirm that the blood DNA collected at the scene aligns with what we believe to be Mr. Decker’s genetic profile,” the sheriff’s office said in a press release issued Tuesday. “At this time, we have no reason to believe any other individuals were involved in this crime.”
The statement marks the first forensic confirmation directly linking Decker to the scene where the children’s bodies were found. His truck — discovered unoccupied near the same location — has served as a key piece of evidence since early in the investigation.
The sheriff’s office emphasized that while the physical evidence continues to mount, the search for Decker remains both active and challenging. Despite extensive ground and aerial efforts, Decker’s current condition — whether alive or deceased — has not been determined.
“Until he is taken into custody or recovered, we will continue these efforts,” the sheriff’s office stated. “We are extremely grateful for the continued leadership, dedication and support from all of our search teams.”
The search has drawn in a broad coalition of agencies, including the National Park Service, which is preparing to dispatch swift-water search and rescue teams to comb rivers and lakes in the area. Cadaver dogs and tracking dogs have been in consistent use, alongside high-tech surveillance tools like drones.
Decker’s case has drawn national attention not only due to the heartbreaking nature of the crime, but also due to the fugitive’s ability to evade capture for over a month in difficult terrain.
The U.S. Marshals Service continues to offer a $20,000 reward for information that leads directly to Decker’s arrest. Described as having black hair, brown eyes, and last seen in a light-colored shirt with dark shorts, Decker remains a person of extreme interest. A renewed suspect flyer with his latest description was circulated on June 16.
Though no public sightings have been confirmed in recent days, some experts believe Decker may still be alive and possibly hiding within remote areas of the state.
“If he’s had experience with the outdoors and the terrain, and if he prepared in advance, it’s possible for someone to remain hidden for weeks or even longer,” said Todd McGhee, a former Massachusetts state trooper and law enforcement analyst, in a recent interview with ABC News.
Authorities, however, remain cautious in their public statements.
“We do not have any evidence to suggest Mr. Decker is alive, or deceased,” the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said. “Every lead and piece of evidence is being treated with the utmost seriousness.”
Community members in Chelan County and across the state remain on high alert, and authorities are urging anyone with information, no matter how minor it may seem, to come forward immediately.
“If you see him, or know anything that could help us locate him, please call 911 right away,” the sheriff’s office added.
As the investigation and manhunt press forward, what remains certain is the shared grief over the lives of three innocent children lost in a crime that continues to shake the region to its core.
As DNA evidence draws a tighter circle around Travis Decker, the haunting reality of three young lives lost continues to echo through the silence left behind. With the fugitive father still at large and no clear sign of life or death, the search presses on—fueled by forensic truth, public urgency, and relentless pursuit. Authorities remain firm: until Decker is found, the manhunt will not rest. In a case marked by heartbreak and mystery, the answers lie not just in the evidence—but in the resolve to bring justice, no matter how far he runs.
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