Washington Authorities Confirm Identification of Fugitive Travis Decker After Daughter Murders

Human remains found in a remote area of Grindstone Mountain in central Washington have been positively identified through DNA analysis as those of Travis Decker, a former Army infantryman wanted for the killing of his three daughters. The bodies of Decker's daughters—Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—were discovered in June at a campground near Leavenworth after Decker failed to return them following a custody visit. Authorities had been searching for Decker for over three months before locating his remains less than a mile from the girls' bodies. Court documents reveal concerns about Decker's deteriorating mental health and unstable behavior prior to the murders, with his ex-wife seeking to restrict his overnight visits due to his frequent homelessness and living out of his truck. Sheriff Mike Morrison expressed regret for the lengthy investigation and hoped the identification would bring some peace to the girls' mother, Whitney Decker. Decker's military training in navigation and survival skills was noted during the search efforts.