More than nine weeks after the murders of his three young daughters, a new possible sighting of Travis Decker has reignited the multi-state search for the fugitive father. And it happened shockingly close to where the tragedy began.
Authorities say a tip was called in Friday evening near Snoqualmie Pass, about a 36-hour hike from where the girls’ bodies were found. The location, roughly 55 miles east of Seattle, sparked a rapid response.
SWAT Teams Deployed After New Tip
The King County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that around 6:00 p.m. Friday, someone reported seeing a man matching Decker’s description near the Pacific Crest Trail, a well-traveled route often used by long-distance hikers.
Within minutes, law enforcement swarmed the wooded area, including SWAT units, K-9s, and aerial support.
But by 9:15 p.m., the large-scale search was called off. Decker wasn’t found.
“As locating him is a priority, we dispatched multiple patrol units,” a spokesperson for the sheriff’s office told The U.S. Sun. “A little more than two hours later, we ended the search, and Travis Decker was not located.”
No explanation has been given for why the operation concluded so quickly, but investigators say they continue to treat every tip as credible.
Close to the Scene of the Crime
The trail where the man was spotted lies about 36 hours by foot from Rock Island Campground — the isolated site near Icicle Creek where 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia were discovered dead on June 2.
The girls had been reported missing three days earlier when Decker failed to return them to their mother, Whitney, after a scheduled custody visit. Investigators later revealed the children had been found with zip-tied hands and plastic bags over their heads.
Decker’s truck was found nearby, abandoned and marked with two bloody handprints.
An Ongoing, Evolving Manhunt
Despite initial speculation that the 32-year-old former Army Ranger could survive off-grid indefinitely, Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison has downplayed that theory in recent weeks.
“You could be outdoors and probably live decently comfortably,” Morrison previously told People. “But foraging and trapping for weeks? That’s not likely.”
Authorities now suspect Decker may have received assistance, either knowingly or unknowingly, and continue to operate under the “helper theory.”
Friday’s potential sighting appears to support the idea that Decker could still be mobile, possibly even attempting to reach Canada via the Pacific Crest Trail, a route that was closed early in the investigation due to similar concerns.
Strategy or Stall? Search Still High-Priority
Despite talk of scaling back, some believe authorities may be using psychological tactics to lure Decker out. Former FBI Special Agent Stuart Kaplan told The U.S. Sun the case remains a top priority behind the scenes, with at least one or two investigators still assigned full-time.
Meanwhile, the $20,000 reward from the U.S. Marshals Service remains active. Officials warn that Decker is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached.
