Authorities Shut Down Washington State Wilderness Areas in Search for Fugitive Dad

Blood evidence has been confirmed in the search for Travis Decker, a Washington state man accused of killing his three daughters.

Investigators discovered two bloody handprints on Decker’s truck earlier this month, abandoned at a campsite in the Cascade Mountains west of Leavenworth.

On Thursday, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison confirmed to KING 5 that blood samples from the area matched Decker’s, ruling out any chance that another person was at the location where the Decker girls’ bodies were found.

As CrimeOnline previously reported, the Wenatchee Police Department said officers then discovered 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker, and 5-year-old Olivia Decker dead near the Rock Island Campground on June 2.

Police suspect that Decker killed them during a planned visitation and then fled.  Search teams continue to comb through wilderness in search of Decker, but can’t confirm yet whether he’s alive or whether he left the area.

”Because of the ruggedness, the remoteness of the of that country, and some of the conditions that we’ve observed, it’s clear that the longer he stays out there — the longer anybody stays out there — the greater the chance that something’s gonna happen, and whether he intends it or not, that he’s gonna die,” Sheriff’s Inspector Chris Whitsett said Tuesday.

In this handout photo provided by the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office deputies participate in the search for Travis Decker, at an undisclosed location in Washington state, Friday, June 6, 2025. (Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office photo via AP)

AP News reports that the U.S. Marshals Service is actively pursuing Decker and also considering the possibility that he may have left the region.  Extra patrols have been put in place to support the search efforts.

The murders happened in Chelan County, but the area is linked to Kittitas County and the Pacific Crest Trail—which extends from Canada to Mexico—through backcountry trails.

In their search for Decker, authorities are actively calling on the public for help. They are encouraging residents to remain watchful in backcountry areas and to examine any security or game camera footage on their properties for potential sightings.

Meanwhile, the U.S. Marshals Service announced a reward of up to $20,000 for information that leads to Decker’s arrest.

CCSO

Decker is described as a white male who stands 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighs around 190 pounds. He has black hair and brown eyes, and was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts.

“Due to safety concerns, do not attempt to contact or approach Decker,” police previously said of Decker, who has extensive military training.

Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845, or submit information online at https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/sheriff/forms/submit-a-tip.

Check back for updates.

[Feature Photo via Whitney Decker/Facebook]

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