Liputan6.com, Jakarta On September 18, 2025, human remains believed to be those of Travis Decker were discovered in a remote wooded area south of Leavenworth, Washington.
The Chelan County Sheriff's Office officially announced the discovery, marking a significant development in a murder and kidnapping case that has captured the public's attention.
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The discovery occurred on Grindstone Mountain, off Icicle Road, a few miles from the tragic location where the bodies of his three daughters were found.
Travis Decker was a fugitive wanted for the murder and kidnapping of his three daughters, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5), who were found dead on June 2, 2025.
This discovery was the result of a routine, grid-by-grid search conducted by multiple law enforcement agencies over a period of more than three months.
Although positive identification is pending DNA analysis, initial findings, including clothing and personal items, strongly indicate that the remains are those of Travis Decker.
“While positive identification has not yet been confirmed, preliminary findings suggest the remains belong to Travis Decker,” the statement said.
Travis Decker's Remains Recovered and Initial Identification
The remains believed to be those of Travis Decker were discovered in a remote area of Grindstone Mountain, a challenging location off Icicle Road.
The discovery was made by a joint team of law enforcement agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service, FBI, U.S. Border Patrol, U.S. Forest Service, Spokane County Sheriff's Office, and Washington State Patrol.
Clothing and personal items found near the remains matched those worn by Decker when he was last seen.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison also stated that the remains showed signs of severe decomposition and dispersion, consistent with wildlife activity in the area.
The Chelan County Sheriff's Office, along with the Washington State Patrol's crime response team, is currently processing the scene.
Background to the Tragic Murders of Decker's Three Daughters
Travis Decker has become a prime fugitive in the shocking murder and kidnapping case of his three daughters.
His three daughters, Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5), were tragically found dead on June 2, 2025, at a remote campground in Chelan County, Washington.
The children's bodies were found with plastic bags over their heads and their hands bound with zip ties near their father's truck.
The cause of their deaths was confirmed as asphyxia, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide.
This incident occurred after Decker was supposed to return the children to his ex-wife, Whitney Decker, in Wenatchee, Washington, following a scheduled visit on May 30, 2025.
Decker's pickup truck was found abandoned near the campground with bloody fingerprints on it.
DNA found in the truck and the plastic bags used in the murders matched DNA profiles believed to belong to the US Army veteran, further bolstering his involvement in this heinous crime.
Search Efforts and Travis Decker's Survival Skills
The search for Travis Decker has been ongoing for over three months, involving multiple federal and local law enforcement agencies.
The search area encompasses a vast and remote area with difficult terrain, dense forests, and other geographical challenges that have complicated search and rescue teams.
Decker is known for his advanced wilderness survival skills, thanks to his experience as an Army veteran from March 2013 to July 2021.
He has extensive training in navigation, survival, and other wilderness skills, making him a difficult target to track.
Before this discovery, on August 25, 2025, the FBI Seattle stated that it had not found any concrete evidence indicating Travis Decker was alive or dead.
In fact, on September 3, the FBI Seattle Division clarified that the remains found near the Rock Island Campground on August 25 and 26 were not those of Decker.