Authorities have confirmed that bloody handprints found on the tailgate of a pickup truck abandoned near a Washington state campground match the DNA of Travis Decker, the ex-soldier accused of murdering his three young daughters.
The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office announced Tuesday that the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab linked the blood evidence on the truck to Decker through samples taken at the scene near the Rock Island campground. The bodies of 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker were discovered there on June 2.
“We know, positively, that all of the DNA samples recovered belong to the same, male, subject, who we believe is Mr. Decker,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “With this evidence, along with the other evidentiary items found at the scene, we do not have any reason to believe there are any other suspects.”
Decker, 32, vanished after failing to return his daughters to their mother’s home in Wenatchee following a scheduled custody visit on May 30. A manhunt began after Flock cameras and other surveillance helped narrow the search to the Rock Island area, where the bodies were ultimately found.
Court records paint a disturbing picture: the girls were zip-tied, had plastic bags placed over their heads, and died from suffocation—likely the same day they were taken. Investigators believe Decker had been planning an escape, citing his internet search history days before the crime, which included terms like “how does a person move to Canada,” “how to relocate to Canada,” and “jobs Canada.”
Authorities continue searching the rugged terrain of the Washington Cascades for Decker, who remains at large and is considered armed and dangerous. Despite intensive efforts from local, federal, and volunteer teams—including ground trackers, drones, and even cadaver dogs—Decker has not been found.
There have been a few possible sightings. Hikers in the Enchantments last month reported seeing a lone man who seemed to be avoiding contact and was poorly equipped for the backcountry. Aerial teams later spotted a person off-trail near Colchuck Lake who fled when a helicopter flew overhead. Police tracking dogs followed a trail to the Ingalls Creek trailhead on Highway 97, but the suspect slipped away.
Search crews from Chelan and Kittitas counties, along with the U.S. Forest Service, National Park Service, and U.S. Marshals, have scoured the area. Drone teams are still flying over land and water, and swift water rescue teams are preparing to search nearby bodies of water.
Decker, a former soldier who served in the Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment but did not complete Ranger School, had a documented history of mental health issues. Diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, he was court-ordered to undergo treatment and anger management, which he failed to comply with. His ex-wife, Whitney Decker, had expressed concerns about his increasing instability in court filings last year, citing that he was often living out of his truck and seeking to limit his custody.
The murder of the three young girls has devastated the Wenatchee community. All three attended Lincoln Elementary School, where mourners have created a growing memorial of flowers, toys, and hand-drawn notes. Meanwhile, a fundraiser for the family has raised more than $1.26 million, as the community and the nation mourn the loss.
A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to Decker’s arrest. Authorities urge anyone with information to contact law enforcement immediately.
Until Decker is found, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office says the search will not stop.
“Until he is taken into custody, or recovered, we will continue these efforts,” the sheriff’s office stated.
Anyone with information is urged to call the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office or submit tips anonymously through Crime Stoppers.
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