Nearly three months after the brutal murders of three young sisters in Washington state, investigators say new DNA evidence has confirmed their father, Travis Decker, as the sole suspect. Authorities also released disturbing details about the crime scene that shed light on how the girls were killed.
Disturbing Crime Scene Discovery
On June 2, the bodies of Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, were found near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington. Court records revealed each girl’s wrists had been zip-tied, and their heads were covered with plastic bags. A new update from officials this week disclosed that two of the girls had two bags each over their heads, while the third had three bags.
Investigators also discovered several cable ties scattered around the area. Both the plastic bags and ties were submitted to the Washington State Crime Lab for forensic testing.
DNA Evidence Confirms Father’s Role
On August 6, the lab reported that DNA profiles matching Travis Decker were found on both the bags and the ties. According to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, the new evidence “provides additional proof that Travis Decker is the only suspect involved in committing these homicides.”
Officials added that the daughters’ DNA was also found on the bags, supporting the autopsy results that determined the girls died from suffocation. In July, authorities had already tied bloody handprints found on the tailgate of Decker’s vehicle to him. The truck was discovered near the location where the girls’ bodies were found.
Search Efforts Continue
Despite the mounting evidence, Decker remains missing. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office has scaled back large-scale search operations due to a decrease in new leads but continues to work with federal partners, including the U.S. Marshals Service, to track him down.
Sheriff Mike Morrison said in an interview with ABC News that the investigation may last years. “We could be in a fight for five years, 10 years, 20 years. I certainly hope we’re looking at a couple weeks and it closes out, but it could be a long time and we are committed to staying with it,” Morrison said.
Reward and Public Warning
The U.S. Marshals are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading directly to Decker’s arrest. He is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of kidnapping. Officials warn he should be considered armed and dangerous.
Anyone with information is urged to call 911 immediately and not approach him under any circumstances.