Sheriff’s Office Confirms DNA Evidence in Ongoing Investigation
Recent updates from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office reveal that DNA found in blood on the tailgate of Travis Decker’s truck matches his profile. The truck was found abandoned on June 2 in a remote area near the Rock Island Campground in Washington State. Tragically, the bodies of Decker’s three young daughters—Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—were also discovered at the scene.
In addition to the truck, law enforcement officials reported finding Decker’s wallet and cellphone. He is currently wanted on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping, and a month after the search for him began, he remains at large.
Detectives initially recovered personal items believed to belong to Decker from the scene. The Washington State Crime Lab confirmed that DNA from these items matched the blood samples found at the location. Officials have stated that all evidence points to Decker as the sole suspect in this tragic case.
On May 30, Decker had picked up his daughters for a court-ordered visit but failed to return them, leading his ex-wife, Whitney Decker, to report them missing the same night. Alongside the pickup truck, Decker’s pet husky was found nearby and appeared unharmed.
Authorities have been actively searching for Decker with help from local, state, and federal teams. There were reports that he may have been seen by a hiker around June 10, and investigators are considering the possibility that he fled to Canada after an internet search for relocation options.
As efforts continue, Kittitas County agencies have recently conducted searches in the area surrounding the crime scene, including using detection dogs. Despite these ongoing efforts, authorities state they currently have no evidence to confirm whether Decker is alive or deceased.
Until he is apprehended or further evidence comes to light, the search will continue.
