Authorities Spot Ex-Soldier Wanted Over Deaths Of Three Daughters Near Washington Lake

Authorities in Washington state are intensifying their search for Travis Decker, a 32-year-old ex-soldier wanted in connection to the murders of his three daughters, after hikers reported seeing a lone individual who appeared ill-prepared for the rugged terrain near Colchuk Lake in the Cascade Range. Decker has been the subject of a large manhunt since early June when his truck and the bodies of his daughters—Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia—were discovered at a campground outside Leavenworth; an autopsy revealed the girls died from suffocation and had been bound. Officials have urged residents near Ingalls Creek and Valleyhi to secure their homes and report any suspicious activity, warning the public not to approach Decker if spotted. Having served as an infantryman deployed to Afghanistan, Decker possesses survival and navigation skills and has previously lived off-grid for extended periods, contributing to the complexity of the ongoing search. His ex-wife had previously raised concerns about his deteriorating mental health and instability, requesting restrictions on his custody rights. Multiple state and federal agencies continue to search hundreds of square miles of remote and mountainous terrain using land, air, and water units, with a reward offered for information leading to his capture.