Police have discovered human bodies of Travis Decker, who was a murderer of his three daughters in Washington. The confirmation of DNA is still pending and some of the important information about the case is still being investigated. Read the chronicle of this deadly case and the latest updates.
What’s New
- Human remains have been discovered in a remote wooded area to the south of Leavenworth in Washington by the authorities, which may be the remains of Travis Decker. The identification is still not established.
- The remains were found through the search by the U.S. Marshals, local police and teams of crime scene investigators.
Background / Case Details
- Decker, 32, is wanted in the murders of his three young daughters: Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5).
- The daughters were last seen when they had a planned visit with the dad May 30, 2025. They were discovered dead on June 2 in or around the truck of Decker at a distant camp site in Chelan County, Washington. The death was identified to be through suffocation.
What’s Pending
- DNA testing to establish the ownership of the remains.
- Further research of the specifics of where Decker was and the chain of events.
detailed timeline
May 30, 2025- Travis Decker was visiting his three daughters who were attending a visitation in Wenatchee Valley, Washington, and had to pick up his girls, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5) on May 30, 2025. He briefly talked to his former wife, Whitney Decker, saying that he would send back the girls by 8. p.m., but they did not. Whitney was worried because she was unable to get in touch with him, his phone was just giving her a voicemail.
May 31, 2025- 5K event The girls failed to turn up at a scheduled 5K event. The Washington State Patrol issued an Endangered Missing Person Alert and authorities were put on alert. Regardless of the harshness, the case did not qualify to an Amber Alert. The investigators had observed that Decker was usually mobile, as he lived in vehicles, campgrounds, or motels.
June 4, 2025 – Decker was reportedly found in June 2, 2025, with no presence in his truck that he lived in part-time near Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. The bodies of the three girls were found nearby. They were used to be tied up with zip ties and then suffocated with the use of plastic bags. Decker was missing. The police pressed several charges against him including first-degree murder and kidnapping.
June 4, 2025 – It was alleged that Decker had been seen in Idaho but this was ultimately proven not to be actually the case.
Early June 2025 – Forensic examination of physical evidence that was obtained at the scene of the crime, such as the zip ties and the plastic bags, commenced. The investigators have observed that Decker had a military history and survived skills, and questioned how he managed to avoid the capture. The factors that were brought out by the attorney of Whitney Decker as contributing factors were mental health issues including PTSD.
July 5, 2025- An other possible sighting was also reported by campers that happened in Idaho in Sawtooth National Forest. Officials were on the trail, however, verification could not be done.
August 1, 2025 –Deparment of investigation was informed about a possible sighting in the area of Snoqualmie Pass in Washington when someone gave a tip. Helicopters, K 9 units and patrols were sent to search the area but they failed to find Decker.
Mid August 2025- Forensic evidence proved that Decker had the DNA on the plastic bags and zip ties. The bags also contained DNA of the three girls. The other information concerning the crime scene like the number of bags per girl was also recorded. Camping grounds and trails were shut down to conduct further investigations.
Late August 2025 –Bones were located in the Chelan County in the process of continued searching. By forensic examination, it was found that some of them were bones of animals and human remains were yet to be handled. The grid searches of the forest and trail closures were carried on.
September 18-19, 2025 –The human remains were discovered in a distant forested section in the south of Leavenworth, Washington by the authorities. There has been some preliminary evidence that they are of Travis Decker although the DNA remains undetermined. The police are handling the location and meeting with the family of Decker.
material unanswered questions and gaps-
- Identity of the new found remains.
The Mismi case To be mentioned in mid-September 2025, human remains were found in Leavenworth, Washington, to the south.
- Police suspect them to be Travis Decker, but DNA testing is yet to be confirmed. It is still unknown whether or not Decker is dead or on the run until it is confirmed.
- Timeline of the murders: Precise dates.
- Although it is known that the girls were last seen on May 30, it is not clear how and when they were actually killed.
- All the three girls were killed using plastic bags, but it remains to be investigated whether they were killed at the same place or at the same time.
- The movements between May 30 and June 2 of Decker.
- There are holes in following his movements during the days before his truck was discovered.
Some of the reported sightings were inconclusive (Idaho, Snoqualmie Pass).
- The police have not yet successfully determined his pathway and possible places of concealment.
- Motive and mental state
- What is not clear is the motive used by Decker to kill his daughters.
Mental health problems, such as PTSD have been listed, but the effect on his actions has not been stated.
- Very little is known regarding whether he did it himself or he was assisted by an outside hand.
- Sources of possible evidence.
Some hard evidence on the crime scene, such as the position of zip ties and bags is under study that would give hints on preparation and planning.
Surveillance video, eyewitness testimonies and tracking of electronic devices may seal the gaps, yet the information has not been made public.
- What occurred after the discovery of the truck
The period between June 2 and September on how Decker survived or avoided being caught is not well known.
- Governments believe that he might have been possessed of wilderness survival skills, although the places or techniques are not confirmed.
- Decker was killed, this confirmed.
Even with the confirmed remains being that of Decker, the causes behind the death either through accident, suicide or otherwise, are still under investigation.
Conclusion
The Travis Decker case is a tragic and complicated investigation. Decker went missing and was hunted down nationwide after his three young daughters disappeared and were murdered in late May 2025. The new findings of human remains in Chelan County might suggest that the search is over but the DNA confirmation is still underway. There are important questions concerning his motives and his movements, and the very circumstances of the crime have not been solved. This case highlights the difficulty of law enforcement agents in the pursuit of fugitives who possess survival skills and the significant impact it has on the families and the communities of victims.
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