New police update confirms what many feared and it’s not the breakthrough anyone was hoping for.
Eight weeks after the murders of Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia Decker (5), the search for their father, and accused killer, Travis Decker is shifting gears. And not in the way devastated loved ones hoped.
In a new statement released Friday, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office confirmed it will be reducing its search efforts around Rock Island Campground, where the girls’ bodies were found on June 2.
Despite an “exhaustive” ground, water, and aerial search, there’s still no sign of Decker, alive or dead.
“Insufficient Information” to Confirm Life or Death
The former Army Ranger, 32, disappeared after failing to return his daughters during a May 30 custody visit in Wenatchee. His abandoned vehicle, discovered days later, contained bloody handprints linked to the crime. Authorities say the campground and surrounding wilderness have been thoroughly searched.
“As of today, Mr. Decker has still not been located, and there is insufficient information to suggest that he is alive, nor is he deceased,” the sheriff’s office said.
While the active search is scaling back, the criminal investigation remains ongoing, and authorities are still urging hunters and hikers to stay alert, especially as bear season begins. A $20,000 reward is still being offered for information leading to Decker’s arrest.
Mental Health Warnings, Missed Signs
Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney, had long feared something was unraveling. According to her attorney, Arianna Cozart, the father of three had been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and was unhoused at the time of the murders.
A September 2024 custody court order had required Decker to undergo anger management, psychiatric evaluation, and therapy. These are services he allegedly struggled to access.
“He suddenly felt very alone and was still facing a lot of the ramifications of his combat,” Cozart said, pointing to his Army service in Afghanistan and symptoms like nightmares and insomnia.
While Decker claimed the VA failed to help, mental health counselor Rob Bates recalled seeing him weeks before the murders. “He was trying to engage services,” Bates said. “We just didn’t have what he needed… we failed him. We failed Whitney. And mostly, we failed those children.”
A System Under Scrutiny
As investigators reduce their footprint, and newly surfaced audio and reportedly released images of Decker emerge, one thing remains painfully clear: the questions are still mounting, and the grief hasn’t gone anywhere.
And now, so many are left wondering: did the system break before Travis Decker did?
