Ex-soldier Travis Decker spotted; sought for daughters’ deaths

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    In a recent development from Seattle, authorities have reported a significant sighting related to the ongoing pursuit of Travis Decker, a former soldier wanted in connection with the tragic deaths of his three daughters. Based on information received from hikers, who observed an individual seemingly unprepared for the challenging terrain, it is believed that the person is Decker himself, spotted near a secluded alpine lake in Washington.

    According to a statement from the Chelan County Sheriff’s office shared via Facebook, tracking teams acted with urgency. Their surveillance efforts led to a helicopter crew identifying a hiker near Colchuk Lake, located in the beloved Cascade Range area known as The Enchantments.

    Officials have reported that the off-trail hiker quickly evaded the helicopter’s view. Following this, search teams discovered a trail and with the assistance of K-9 units, they traced the individual’s movements to the vicinity of the Ingalls Creek Trailhead, situated to the south of Leavenworth.

    Though the specific timing of this sighting was not disclosed, an advisory was sent out late Monday evening instructing the residents of the Ingalls Creek and Valleyhi community to secure their properties and remain vigilant regarding Decker’s potential presence.

    Travis Decker, aged 32, became the focus of an intense search after June 2, when a sheriff’s deputy uncovered his truck along with the deceased bodies of his daughters, 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia, at a campsite near Leavenworth. The incident followed his failure to return the girls to their mother’s residence in Wenatchee after an agreed visitation that was to end three days prior.

    Decker, who served as an infantryman in the U.S. Army from March 2013 until July 2021, including a four-month deployment to Afghanistan in 2014, possesses significant training in navigation and survival skills. His military background includes a history of living off the grid for extended periods.

    Numerous state and federal agencies have dedicated efforts to searching the vast and rugged regions by land, air, and water. The U.S. Marshals Service has supported this search by offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information that leads to Decker’s apprehension.

    Context surrounding Decker’s situation emerged when, last September, his ex-wife, Whitney Decker, filed a petition aiming to alter their parenting arrangements. She highlighted the deterioration of his mental health and noted his growing instability, often characterized by living out of his vehicle. She sought to limit his overnight interactions with their daughters until he could secure stable housing.

    An autopsy revealed the cause of death for Decker’s daughters as suffocation, with the sheriff’s office noting the use of zip ties to bind them and plastic bags placed over their heads.