Man's blood found at campsite where 3 young sisters found dead as search for their father continues in Washington state
Source: CBS news
Updated on: June 10, 2025 / 6:47 AM EDT / CBS/AP
Blood discovered at a campsite where three young Washington state sisters were found dead last week belonged to a male, authorities said Monday, as the search continued for their father, a former soldier with extensive survival skills.
Investigators have been looking for Travis Caleb Decker, 32, since the night of May 30, when he failed to return the girls to their mother's home in Wenatchee, about 100 miles east of Seattle, after a scheduled visit.
Three days later, a sheriff's deputy discovered the bodies of 9-year-old Paityn Decker, 8-year-old Evelyn Decker and 5-year-old Olivia Decker down an embankment at a campsite in the Cascade Mountains. The campsite, west of Leavenworth, is about 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from the U.S.-Mexico border to the U.S.-Canada border............................
................Last September his ex-wife, Whitney Decker, wrote in a petition to modify their parenting plan that his mental health issues had worsened and that he had become increasingly unstable, often living out of his truck. She sought to restrict him from having overnight visits with the girls until he found housing.
An autopsy on Friday determined the cause of death to be suffocation, the sheriff's office said. The girls had been bound with zip ties and had plastic bags placed over their heads..............
Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/travis-decker-manhunt-male-blood-campsite-girls-killed-washington-state/
Such a horrible way to kill children--tie their hands and put plastic bags over their heads.
I hope this cruel man gets invested with bug and mosquito bits!!
He obviously thought more of his dog, as the article says they found him alive at the campsite.
Link to tweet

cilla4progress
(26,341 posts)I work in the legal field in Chelan County.
I am not involved in the Decker case. But I've been in those courtrooms. While I have no big complaints, and have largely been able to ultimately get good, protective outcomes, including my cases where there is domestic violence, I do have to fight and sometimes take multiple approaches and attempts to secure safety for my client and the children.
This was a tragic situation that may or may not have been foreseeable. I'm not looking through the court pleadings for any answers. I just know that it reinforces my commitment to advocacy and diligence, even when I know the Court is getting impatient with my persistence. I don't file frivolously, but I trust my clients when they share with me their experiences and concerns, and we do the best we can to protect the vulnerable children involved.
The community is shattered and fearful, heartbroken and lost. He is still thought to be on the run in the area.
Anyway..just my 2 cents.
montanacowboy
(6,515 posts)allowed to keep those girls overnight. I hope they find him having been eaten by a cougar.
PS Cilla - that sure is some movie star sheriff you have over there!
cilla4progress
(26,341 posts)I haven't watched him. What are you referring to?
He is a member of the local white nationalist church. BUT he is better than the other guy - who was inner circle! He is only outskirts (of church).
thinkingagain
(1,303 posts)When he and the last one were campaigning against one another I thought that is what I heard as that was some of what was brought up
I am not sure if that is correct or not as it has been awhile so I
May have to go reread some old articles
montanacowboy
(6,515 posts)referred to him as Chelan Co. Sheriff. He looks like a movie star right out of central casting.
cilla4progress
(26,341 posts)Mike Morrison. I guess he does, a bit!
Yes - not involved any longer in the sense the feds are on it. FBI and I don't know who all.
The community received a warning last night that dad is thought to be in a specific area nearby.
Pachamama
(17,287 posts)I remember it well Josh Powell - wife disappeared and he ended up killing his two sons and himself.
The courts and child custody and child protective services in WA failed then and seems to have happened here again too.
cilla4progress
(26,341 posts)I don't remember that.
montanacowboy
(6,515 posts)house with him and the two boys inside. Terrible.
tazcat
(74 posts)cate94
(2,973 posts)For the mother, so horrible for those kids.