The Kittitas County Sheriff's office in Washington has shared a new theory as the hunt for Travis Decker continues following the deaths of his three daughters.
Decker, 33, has been missing since early this month after a planned custody visit with his three children, Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5.
The girls' mother, Whitney Decker, reported her children missing on May 30, but just days later they were tragically found lifeless at the Rock Island Campground in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
The Chelan County Sheriff's Office reported that a deputy found the three young girls with plastic bags over their heads, and evidence that their hands had been zip-tied.
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In an update shared on Facebook on Tuesday (June 24), the Kittitas County Sheriff's office explained that Decker is believed to have killed his three daughters and 'disappeared into the forest around the Rock Island campground in Chelan County'.
In the weeks since his disappearance, 'thousands of hours' have been committed to trying to find and arrest the father.
With Decker still unaccounted for, the Sheriff's Office has now shared a theory that he may no longer be alive.
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The statement explained: "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."
In spite of the idea that Decker may have died, the statement assured that officers 'won't quit' their search for him, adding: "Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker deserve justice. And Decker remains a danger to the public as long as he's at large. We are still asking for and will continue to investigate leads and tips from the public."
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"The KCSO deputies and detectives who've been at this search for three weeks want nothing more than to bring Travis Decker to justice," it went on. "We still believe public awareness and help is our best tool-whether it comes from a cabin owner who finds something out of place, a hiker in the Enchantments who discovers evidence our searches missed, or anyone else.
"Please continue to be vigilant and aware of anything suspicious or out of place, and please keep alerting us to what you see by calling Kittcom at 509-925-8534."
Amid the ongoing search, Whitney Decker paid tribute to her three children in a memorial service in which she expressed hope that 'the legacy of the girls' lives lives on in everyone's heart forever'.
"They were incredible," she added of her children.
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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].
Emily Brown