Police reveal new evidence after sharing chilling theory in search for father of three daughters found dead following visit
Police have outlined new evidence in the search for Travis Decker, who is wanted on first-degree murder and kidnapping charges after his three daughters were found dead.
It's been a month since Decker was last seen, as police continue to issue updates on their manhunt for the father-of-three.
A huge search was triggered after Decker's ex-wife Whitney raised the alarm and reported her children missing on May 30 after daughters, Olivia, five, Evelyn, eight, and Paityn, nine, failed to return home from a planned court-ordered visit with their father.
Decker was due to drop their daughters back at their home in Wenatchee, Washington State, but he was nowhere to be seen.
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Local authorities later confirmed the tragic news all three of the little girls were found dead at Rock Island Campground, around 40 miles away from their home on June 2.
The girls' bodies were also found near to their father's white 2017 GMC Sierra truck, with Decker having since been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, Wenatchee Police Department confirmed.
Decker remains at large over a month later, with police continuing to comb through the area in search for him.
In the latest update in the case, on Tuesday (July 1), Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed blood found on Decker’s truck matches his DNA.
"The lab took DNA samples from those items and found they matched the DNA in the blood samples recovered at the scene," a press release states.
"We know, positively, that all of the DNA samples recovered belong to the same, male, subject, who we believe is Mr. Decker.
"With this evidence, along with the other evidentiary items found at the scene, we do not have any reason to believe there are any other suspects."
According to the press release, Decker's wallet and cellphone were also recovered at the scene.
On June 24, police shared a new theory as to what may have happened to Decker.
The Kittitas County Sheriff's office explained on Facebook that Decker is accused of killing his three daughters and 'disappearing into the forest around the Rock Island campground in Chelan County'.
The statement said: "At this time, there is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area. Seemingly strong early leads gave way to less convincing proofs over the last two weeks of searching...
"Some search resources are being redirected to find and recover Decker if he died in the rugged wilderness during this intense search—a possibility that increases every day. Visible extra patrols continue in the area. The US Marshals service has turned their fugitive-finding resources to the task of finding Decker if he's left our area."
Despite the recent theory, police have assured the general public that officers 'won't quit' their search for him.
If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact GrieveWell on (734) 975-0238, or email [email protected].
Callum Jones