CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. — Officials in Washington state are scaling back the search for a Pewaukee native accused of kidnapping and killing his three young daughters.
In an update on July 25, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office says they are reducing the footprint fo the search because of “a decrease in leads and tips into the potential location of Mr. Decker… CCSO Detectives continue to assess evidence and search for new investigative leads”.
“Law enforcement personnel, along with search and rescue organizations have conducted an exhaustive search for Mr. Decker of the wilderness area surrounding the initial crime scene. Information and leads received have been followed up on in several different areas with the focus remaining on the Blewett Pass and Enhancements area between Chelan and Kittitas Counties.”
Officials confirmed that “Decker has still not been located, and there is insufficient information to suggest that he is alive, nor if he is deceased”.
Decker has been missing since early June, after the bodies of his three young daughters — 9-year-old Paityn, 5-year-old Olivia, and 4-year-old Evelyn — were found near a campground in Leavenworth, Washington on June 2. Their official cause of death was ruled from suffocation.
Their mother reported the girls missing after they did not come home after a planned visitation with their father Travis on May 30.Â
Chelan County officials released alternative photos of Decker in mid-June as the search continued across Washington state, and also debunked a TikTok video claiming Decker was taken into custody after a long standoff. Authorities said they had no part in the video, which falsely portrayed one of their sheriffs.
The primary concern is that the 32-year-old Decker is a former Army Ranger with survival training and a background in the Washington National Guard, so it would be possible for him to survive long periods of time in rugged terrain.
The United States Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading directly to Decker’s arrest. The suspect should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information is urged to contact the nearest U.S. Marshals office, the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102, or USMS Tips at www.usmarshals.gov/tips.
