Dashcam footage shows fugitive Travis Decker after traffic accident
Authorities released dashcam footage showing wanted fugitive Travis Decker days before his three young daughters went missing.
Nearly three months since the search for fugitive Travis Decker commenced, officials are now working to determine whether recently discovered bones belong to the Washington man wanted in the murder of his three young daughters.
Bones were located around the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County earlier in the week as part of the ongoing manhunt, FBI Seattle spokesperson Ted Halla said in a statement Aug. 29. However, its not yet clear whether the bones belong to Decker or if they are even human.
“These bones will be further analyzed to determine if they are animal or human,” Halla told USA TODAY via email.
The girls, Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia Decker, were found near the Rock Island Campground near Leavenworth, Washington on June 2, three days after they were reported missing by their mother following a planned custody visit with their father.
The former U.S. Army member is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping in connection to the death of his daughters.
The U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force has taken over the search for Decker deploying personnel while overseeing in depth investigations, interviews and assessments. Law enforcement has been scouring across rugged terrain and harsh conditions among other environmental challenges for three months now.
Did they find Travis Decker yet?
No, officials have not found Decker as of Saturday, Aug 30. The manhunt for the 33-year-old fugitive has reached three months.
Is Travis Decker alive?
Officials have not yet determined whether Decker is alive or dead.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison previously told USA TODAY that a decline in tips has hindered finding Decker and also suggested that there’s a possibility he is dead.
“Tips have slowed but the U.S. Marshals are still on the ground with us,” Morrison said. “Clearly it’s looking more like the probability he’s deceased. It’s possible, but for now we’re presuming he is still alive.”
When was Travis Decker last seen?
Decker was last seen alive with his three daughters on May 30, according to Morrison.
Before disappearing, he was homeless and primarily living in his truck in the Wenatchee area, investigators said. Court papers say he exhibited mental health issues before the girls’ killings.
Where were the girls last seen?
At the time of their deaths, the sisters lived with their mother, Whitney Decker, in Wenatchee, a city in Chelan County about 150 miles east of Seattle.
Whitney reported her children missing on May 30 after the siblings left their home for a planned custody visit with Decker, the Wenatchee Police Department reported. The girls were found dead in Chelan County near the campsite close to Leavenworth, three days later, on June 2.
How did the Decker girls die?
Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia Decker died as a result of homicide from suffocation, a preliminary report from a medical examiner revealed.
Their bodies were found lifeless with plastic bags over their heads and evidence that their hands had been zip-tied near their father’s truck, court filings obtained by USA TODAY show.
What does Travis Decker look like?
Police described Decker as a white man with black hair and brown eyes, standing 5 feet 8 inches tall and weighing 190 pounds.
At the time of his disappearance, he was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.
Authorities said Decker “may pose a significant risk, if approached.”
A $20,000 reward is being offered for information leading to his arrest.
Anyone who sees Decker or with information about his whereabouts is asked to call 911. Tipsters can also call the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845 or submit information at https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/sheriff/forms/submit-a-tip.
Tipsters can also call the U.S. Marshals Service at 1-800-336-0102 or submit a tip online at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.
Contributing: Natalie Neysa Alund
