The manhunt for Travis Decker, the 32‑year‑old former U.S. Army infantryman accused of murdering his three young daughters, has surged back into the spotlight.
On July 5, federal agents received a tip from a family camping near Bear Creek in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest. Reports say they spotted someone matching Decker’s description.
As reported by NewsNation’s Brian Entin on X, “The US Marshals say Travis Decker may have been spotted in Idaho. On July 5th, they got a tip from a family in the Bear Creek area of the Sawtooth National Forest that matches the description of Decker.”
Entin, a respected investigative reporter at NewsNation with a strong track record covering manhunts and federal fugitive cases, delivered this update directly from the U.S. Marshals’ Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force.
New tip prompts intensified search
According to the U.S. Marshals, hikers reported an individual in the forest, described as a white male, approximately 5’10″ tall, with a long ponytail, overgrown beard, and mustache.
He was wearing a black mesh cap, black gauged earrings, a cream‑colored T‑shirt, black shorts, a black Garmin‑style watch, a black JanSport backpack, and low‑top Converse or Vans shoes.
Marshals emphasized that the campers avoided any direct contact, saying the person “did not want to make eye contact and also didn’t respond when spoken to.”
The sighting, reported roughly a month into the search, marks a pivotal moment as the manhunt enters its sixth week.
Authorities mobilized additional resources across rugged terrain spanning Idaho and Washington, expecting that summer’s thaw and increased outdoor activity could yield fresh clues.
Context: the Decker case and the ongoing manhunt
The tragedy dates back to May 30, when Decker picked up his daughters (Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia, ages 9, 8, and 5) for a scheduled custody visit. He failed to return them by 8 p.m., prompting a missing persons alert later that evening.
On June 2, investigators discovered the girl’s bodies at Washington’s Rock Island Campground, suffocated with plastic bags over their heads and zip ties binding their wrists. Law enforcement also found Decker’s white truck nearby, stained with bloody handprints and containing his wallet and cellphone. Decker’s dog was also in the area.
The investigations later revealed that blood on the tailgate matched Decker’s DNA. Prosecutors charged Decker with three counts of first‑degree murder and three counts of kidnapping.
Authorities warned that Decker is likely “armed and dangerous.” As of early July, local, state, and federal agencies, including the U.S. Marshals, Border Patrol, the Idaho State Police, and the Forest Service, have supported the massive search. The U.S. Marshals Service has also offered a $20,000 reward for credible information leading to Decker’s capture.
What’s next?
With the manhunt now in its second month, focus has shifted toward Idaho’s forests. Cabin owners and campers in the Sawtooth region have been alerted to stay vigilant. The Marshals have stressed the importance of public tips: “Anyone with information about Decker’s whereabouts is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office at 1‑800‑336‑0102.
As the search persists, law enforcement remains hopeful that this latest sighting may finally lead to what has become an unprecedented and tragic cross‑state manhunt.
Published: Jul 7, 2025 01:14 pm