Chelan County Sheriff remains ‘optimistic’ as search for Travis Decker continues

WENATCHEE – An extensive search operation, including local, regional, state and federal agencies, remains active for Travis Decker.

Decker is wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping in the deaths of his daughters — Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5.

The bodies of the girls were discovered Monday in a remote area near Icicle Road outside Leavenworth, days after they were last seen with their father on May 30 during a scheduled visitation. Decker remains at large, and authorities said he should be considered dangerous.

“Clearly, this is not the outcome we want to see. We were hoping that we could find Travis today, but we are feeling optimistic,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said during a press conference on Wednesday evening.

The continued “all hands” search operations on Wednesday involved multiple agencies across the region, state, and nation, including multiple sheriff’s offices, the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Washington State Patrol, and U.S. Border Patrol. 

CCSO deployed helicopters for aerial support and sent its swiftwater team to search Icicle Creek. The search also brought in help from nearby sheriff’s offices, such as helicopters from the Spokane Sheriff’s Office, as well as search and rescue units from the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office checking trailheads on the backside of Chelan County. Morrison told Ward Media they are also considering reaching out to King and Snohomish Counties for potential air assets.

Investigation efforts continued alongside the physical search, interviewing associates of Decker, processing and following leads, and conducting cellphone forensics. A behavioral analyst unit from the FBI has been processing the information to better understand Decker’s decision-making process, according to Morrison.

“[We’re] just trying to get a better understanding of him. I never had a one-on-one conversation with him, so it’s hard to really put ourselves in his mindset. Clearly, when we see actions like this, it doesn't make a lot of sense to me,” said Morrison. “So even trying to get past that, like, ‘Okay, if an individual were to make these kinds of choices, what might be a reason he did make those choices, and what would you do afterwards?”

Through interviews with associates of Decker, including his brother, father, and ex-wife, authorities learned that Decker is well-versed in wilderness survival and caching and has spent up to two and a half months off the grid, Morrison said.

Morrison also confirmed that search partners pursued reports of possible sightings along East Leavenworth Road and at milepost 83 on US-2, as well as a report of a possible sighting in McCall, Idaho. However, none of the sightings were believed to be Decker.

He was unable to confirm when exactly Decker may have originally fled, but was expecting Thursday’s autopsy results to provide a better timeline.

Morrison told Ward Media that his team was working openly with the Prosecutor's Office in the case, should Decker be found alive and taken into custody.

“‘We want [the Prosecutor’s Office] with us every step of the way, so there are no issues when we go to court, and we want to, of course, make sure if there's charging enhancements that we can put on there, that they're solidified. We're not trying to grasp them after the fact,” said Morrison.

A reward of up to $20,000 is being offered for information that leads directly to his arrest. Authorities say Decker may be armed and is considered dangerous. He is described as a white male, 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, with black hair and brown eyes.

There has been a change to the tip line process and anyone with information is urged to call the CCSO tip line at 509-667-6845 or submit information at https://www.co.chelan.wa.us/sheriff/forms/submit-a-tip.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media