Travis Decker search update: Remains recovered and authorities say closure could be near

Authorities say searchers discovered human remains believed to be those of Travis Decker, the 32-year-old father wanted in the killings of his three young daughters, raising hopes that the months-long manhunt may be coming to a close.

Where the remains were found

The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office reports that investigators discovered the remains in a remote wooded area south of Leavenworth, Washington, on Grindstone Mountain, off Icicle Road. That’s less than a mile from where law enforcement found the bodies of Decker’s three daughters at the Rock Island Campground. The remains were in rugged and mountainous terrain, with difficult access.

Authorities are processing the area with the Washington State Patrol crime scene response team and other agencies. Preliminary observations indicate the remains are in advanced decomposition and disturbed, possibly by animal activity.

Law enforcement described clothing found near the site as consistent with what Decker wore when he went missing. Officials believe the remains belong to Decker, but authorities have not yet confirmed the identification. DNA analysis is underway.

The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office has been in contact with Decker’s family, offering support and asking for privacy as the investigation continues. Sheriff Mike Morrison noted the proximity of the discovery to the original crime scene and said the preliminary findings are strong.

The Decker case

Authorities want Decker on multiple charges, including three counts of first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the deaths of his daughters. On May 30, 2025, Decker picked up his daughter’s Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia, ages 9, 8, and 5, for a scheduled visitation and never returned the children home.

Investigators found their bodies on June 2 at a campground in Chelan County, near Decker’s abandoned truck. An autopsy determined the cause of death to be suffocation. Decker, a former Army infantryman with experience in survival and wilderness navigation, disappeared, triggering a massive multi-agency search involving local, state, and federal law enforcement. Witnesses reported possible sightings in various remote areas, as law enforcement issued a warrant and placed a reward for information.