A composite image of what triple murder suspect Travis Decker may look like (Chelan County Sheriff”s Office).
The manhunt for Travis Decker, 33, has moved into Idaho, where authorities said that a family in the state’s Bear Creek area reportedly spotted someone matching the triple murder suspect’s description.
According to a press release from the U.S. Marshals Service, a family who was in the Bear Creek area of Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest reported to authorities that they had seen a man who matched the widely shared description of Decker while in the area on Saturday. Seattle-based ABC affiliate KOMO reported that the man in question was 5’8″ to 5’10” tall, wearing a black mesh cap, black gauged earrings, a cream-colored shirt and black shorts. The description matches clothing Decker was seen wearing the day he picked up his three daughters for a scheduled visitation — the same day police believe he killed them all.
Love true crime? Sign up for our newsletter, The Law&Crime Docket, to get the latest real-life crime stories delivered right to your inbox.
According to the family, the man they saw was sporting a long ponytail and an overgrown beard and mustache. He was wearing a black Garmin-style watch and carrying a black JanSport backpack.
Press release from the U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force about the latest possible sighting of Travis Decker (KTVB).
Boise-based NBC affiliate KTVB obtained the press release from the U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force, which featured the description and a photo of Decker that was captured by security cameras on May 30, the last day his daughters — 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia — were seen alive. In that May 30 photo, Decker is seen wearing his hair a ponytail and a cream-colored shirt and black shorts.
As previously reported by Law&Crime, authorities determined that DNA found on Decker’s truck belonged to him. The bodies of the three girls were found on June 2, not far from the location of the truck. Authorities stated that because of this evidence, Decker is the sole suspect in his daughters’ alleged triple murder.
KTVB reported that Supervisory Deputy U.S. Marshal Eric Toms was offering a $20,000 reward for information that would lead to Decker’s arrest.
Decker, who is ex-military and a known survivalist, went off the grid after he failed to drop his three daughters off with their mother, from whom Decker is divorced. The search for Decker has spanned counties in his home state of Washington and has now extended to the neighboring state of Idaho. Authorities have opened up to the possibility that Decker may be found dead while maintaining that their search continues.
Decker has been charged with three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping in connection with the deaths of his daughters.
Police have warned the public that if they see Travis Decker, they should call 911 immediately and “do not attempt to contact or approach him.” 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.
