Paityn, Olivia and Evelyn Decker.
Share and Follow

() Chelan County, Washington, authorities expect to wait another two days before learning whether human remains and clothing initially spotted by a police drone in a remote area belong to Travis Decker, the ex-soldier who allegedly killed his three young daughters before escaping into the wilderness earlier this year.

Sheriff Michael Morrison said Friday that clothing and other belongings recovered with the remains near the town of Leavenworth point to Decker, but it’s not certain until the Washington State Patrol’s crime lab says it is.  

“We’re not going to congratulate each other, pat each other on the back, until we do get that DNA confirmation. But this is a good find,” Morrison told “Banfield” in an interview Friday.

Morrison said bones and clothing were spotted through drone images Thursday before detectives were brought in by helicopter to the wooded, steep terrain where the items were found strewn about, possibly by wild animals. He said investigators also found two intact human feet. They have not recovered a weapon or written note, the sheriff said.

Forensics experts will try to determine how the individual died and how long the individual had been dead, Morrison said.

If it’s Decker and he did not meet with some kind of foul play, the sheriff said, it will mark an end to the case and the region’s biggest manhunt. He said he hopes such a resolution might bring a measure of closure to Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney, who was the mother of the slain children 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn and 5-year-old Olivia.

“It’s not going to bring her daughters back, no matter what,” Morrison said, “but if she can rest easier at night, I feel like we’ve accomplished at least a portion of our job.”

A variety of authorities had been trying to track down Travis Decker since June 2, when police discovered the asphyxiated bodies of his daughters near a campsite. The 32-year-old former infantryman had picked up his children May 30 for a court-mandated parental visit but did not return them to the Wenatchee home of their mother.

Friends and family have said Decker suffered from mental illness that appeared to worsen in the months leading up to the murders.

Whitney Decker’s attorney, Arianna Cozart, previously said her client hopes that the tragedy brings about changes in the way Amber Alerts are issued and shines light on the mental health struggles of veterans.

“She knows that if he is found alive, he’ll never be able to answer the questions that she might have to a point where it would give her any peace,” Cozart said in June.

Paityn, Olivia and Evelyn Decker.
This undated photo provided by Whitney Decker shows Paityn, Olivia and Evelyn Decker. (Courtesy of Whitney Decker via AP)
Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Texas mother demands answers after 19-year-old daughter found dead hours after college tailgate

Texas Mother Seeks Justice: 19-Year-Old Daughter Mysteriously Dies After College Tailgate Event

The mother of Brianna Aguilera, a 19-year-old sophomore at Texas A&M, expresses…
Surveillance video shows brazen heist at high-end boutique in New York City

Surveillance Footage Captures Daring Theft at Upscale New York City Boutique

NEW YORK — Authorities are actively pursuing the suspects involved in a…
'Very alarming': Man partially paralyzed after Murray Hill shooting, advocates call it a hate crime

Advocates Label Murray Hill Shooting as Hate Crime After Man Suffers Partial Paralysis

Amid the unfolding tragedy in Jacksonville, court records have come to light,…
Drug kingpin El Chapo's son enters plea in multibillion-dollar drug trafficking case

El Chapo’s Son Faces Justice: Major Plea Unveiled in Billion-Dollar Drug Trafficking Saga

Joaquín Guzmán López, the son of notorious cartel leader Joaquín “El Chapo”…
NFL analyst Terry Bradshaw baffles viewers with latest on-air ramble

Terry Bradshaw’s On-Air Commentary Leaves NFL Fans Puzzled: A Breakdown of the Viral Moment

Terry Bradshaw once again captured audience attention with an unexpected on-air moment…
Victim in deadly Stockton, California mass shooting identified as Amari Peterson; FBI offers up to $50,000 for suspects' capture

Breaking: FBI Offers $50K Reward as Amari Peterson is Identified in Stockton Mass Shooting

In Stockton, California, a tragic mass shooting on Saturday resulted in the…
Washington state man investigated for threatening ICE agents online, vowing to 'make life harder' for officers

ICE Cracks Down on Child Predators and Armed Robbers Amid Surge in Officer Assaults

EXCLUSIVE TO FOX: On Monday, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) captured…
Steve Witkoff greets Putin in Moscow for Russia-Ukraine peace talks

Steve Witkoff Meets with Putin in Moscow: Pivotal Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks Underway

On Tuesday, Steve Witkoff, serving as a special envoy for former President…