Investigators searching for Travis Decker, the Wenatchee man accused of killing his three young daughters near Leavenworth, have discovered bones near the crime scene, authorities confirmed.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said the bones were recovered during a grid search at the Rock Island Campground along Icicle Creek. With more than 100 FBI and local personnel combing the rugged terrain, a searcher came across the remains earlier this week.
“It was inconclusive at the time if they were animal or human, so it was sent off to Central Washington University in their anthropology department to do a confirmation,” Morrison told KOMO News.
If determined to be human, the bones will undergo further forensic testing.
The discovery comes nearly three months after Decker’s daughters — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 — were found dead at the campground on June 2. The girls were suffocated with plastic bags and zip-tied at the wrists, according to the sheriff’s office.
Decker, a 39-year-old former Army Ranger with a documented history of PTSD and other trauma, has been missing since the killings. Investigators have searched vast areas of Chelan and Kittitas counties, often under difficult conditions including steep hillsides, dense brush, and limited cell service.
The FBI took command of the search earlier this month, calling it one of the most complex and resource-intensive investigations the county has ever faced. The bureau has deployed specialty units, including SWAT, medical teams, forensic experts, and crisis response specialists, in hopes of locating Decker or evidence tied to him.
Morrison said there is still no proof showing whether Decker is alive or dead. “This has been a painstaking and difficult task, and I want to personally commend all involved for their dedication,” he said at a recent press conference.
The sheriff emphasized the search will continue until all leads are exhausted and closure is brought to the victims’ family.
