Share and Follow
A coroner has disclosed that there is ‘no scientific confirmation’ regarding the identity of a body found in the wilderness, which was presumed to be that of the accused killer, Travis Decker, even though the US Marshals made an announcement claiming otherwise.
The remains, thought to belong to Decker, were located in the dense wilderness of Washington on September 18, which is three months after the discovery of his three daughters’ bodies – nine-year-old Paityn, eight-year-old Evelyn, and five-year-old Olivia.
On Wednesday, US Marshals filed a motion to dismiss the murder charges against Decker, citing the fact that he had been declared dead.
But now, Chelan County Coroner Wayne Harris has told the Daily Mail that no such formal confirmation has taken place.
‘There’s no scientific confirmation that it’s him, so I can’t speak to that,’ Harris said.
‘We saw a recent filing that it does say that he is deceased, but they [federal Marshalls] are using circumstantial evidence.’
Harris said the coroner’s office ‘can’t use circumstantial evidence, we have to use scientific evidence,’ which prolongs the identification process.
As it stands, Harris said ‘there is still DNA testing that is taking place.
A coroner has criticized the authorities’ announcement that a body found during the search for the alleged murderer, Travis Decker, has been formally identified.
A body believed to be Decker was discovered in the dense Washington wilderness on September 18, three months after the bodies of his three daughters, Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia, five, were discovered
‘Our office, and every coroner medical exam or office in the nation, must use scientific evidence. That’s either DNA, fingerprints, X-rays or visual identification. We cannot confirm one way or another without one of those methods.’
As an extension of that, it is too early to confirm the manner and cause of death for the body they have in their possession.
Local sheriff Mike Morrison has since issued a statement doubling down on Harris’ comments.
He said his department is ‘not in a position to make a positive identification or confirmation of Mr Decker’s status’, despite being aware of the US Marshal’s court filing.
‘We are currently awaiting DNA test results from the state Crime Lab, which are expected to be returned within the next few days.’
Morrison vowed to hold a full press conference as soon as he had more answers to provide the public, and said he is committed to assuring the ‘accuracy and integrity’ of the investigation.
‘We need to know if it’s him first, right? So, we aren’t even crossing that bridge yet. Plus, we don’t even know if we can give you a cause of death. We might not have one ourselves,’ Harris said.
‘We just found out that the Marshalls released all that information, and it’s frustrating because circumstantial evidence doesn’t work in our office. You need actual DNA proof.’
Authorities confirmed that Travis Decker, who was accused of killing his three young girls, is dead after a months-long manhunt
The finding occurred three months after his daughters Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia, five, were found dead at a Washington campground
Harris hopes to have more answers within two to three days, but noted that is an extraordinarily fast turn around, and that the case has been expedited.
Often, this process can drag out weeks or even months.
In Washington, coroners do not release full autopsy results to the public. This information is provided directly to law enforcement and family. It will be up to officials to release those details to the public, if they choose to do so.
His comments are a blow to authorities covering the investigation, who considered the case closed after finding remains which matched the 33-year-old veteran.
A federal law enforcement source told TMZ that the remains did belong to Decker, who struggled with his mental health prior to allegedly killing the girls.
The official said authorities were able to confirm the remains belonged to the father through DNA – a claim which has since been disputed.
His body was found in a remote wooded area near Leavenworth, where there have been coordinated efforts to track Decker down.
The remains were found with clothing that matched the latest description of Decker.
Police said Decker was homeless and living out of his car by the time he picked up his three girls from their mother’s house on May 30
Police had previously noted that Decker had extensive wilderness survival training as an Army veteran and member of the Washington National Guard.
He joined the Army in 2013 and served in Afghanistan before transferring to the Washington National Guard in 2021.
The Guard was in the process of a disciplinary discharge due to Decker’s absences when his daughters were killed.
As the search wore on, authorities became less certain he was still alive and hiding out in the wilderness.
The former soldier had been wanted since June 2, when a sheriff’s deputy found his truck and the bodies of his three daughters at a campground.
The discovery came three days after he failed to return the girls to their mother’s home in Wenatchee, about 100 miles east of Seattle, following a scheduled visit.
Police said Decker was homeless and living out of his car by the time he picked up his three girls from their mother’s house on May 30.
His ex-wife Whitney told police she didn’t believe Decker was dangerous, and that he loved his daughters, with whom he had a ‘good relationship’.
He had been suffering from mental health issues at the time, and had recently been diagnosed with borderline personality disorder.
Decker was even court-mandated to receive mental health treatment and domestic violence anger management counseling but had refused.
