The tragic cause of death has been ascertained for three young sisters, Paityn Decker, aged 9, Evelyn Decker, 8, and Olivia Decker, 5, whose lifeless bodies were discovered near a Washington campground. According to a press release issued by the Chelan County Sheriff's Office on June 9th, the sisters succumbed to suffocation. Following an autopsy conducted on June 6th, their deaths were officially classified as homicides.
Authorities were initially notified of the missing girls on May 30th, when their mother filed a civil complaint stating that they had failed to return home after a scheduled visit with their father. On June 2nd, deputies discovered the girls' bodies inside a pickup truck belonging to their father, Travis Decker, parked in the vicinity of Rock Island Campground in Leavenworth, Washington. Despite collecting a substantial amount of evidence, including Travis's personal belongings from the vehicle, deputies were unable to locate the 32-year-old at the scene. Travis remains at large and is being sought on charges of murder in the first degree and kidnapping.
A former military trainee, Travis is reportedly "highly skilled in wilderness survival and capable of enduring days or even weeks in the wild with minimal equipment," according to authorities. The Chelan County Sheriff's Office emphasized in a June 4th statement, "It is uncertain whether Decker is currently armed, but he may pose a substantial threat if approached."
Travis is described as a 5'8" male with black hair and brown eyes, last seen donning a light-colored shirt and dark shorts. In an affidavit obtained by KNDO, an affiliate of NBC News, on June 6th, U.S. Deputy Marshal Keegan Stanley revealed that Travis conducted suspicious searches on his Google account prior to his disappearance, including inquiries about moving to Canada, relocating to Canada, jobs in Canada, and specific job opportunities in the country. Notably, the location where his daughters' bodies were found lies approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a pathway connecting the United States to Canada and Mexico, adding a chilling dimension to the ongoing investigation.
