Authorities confirmed on Monday that three young sisters found deceased near a Washington campground succumbed to suffocation while on a planned visit with their father. Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5, were discovered on June 2 close to the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County after a search operation was initiated.
An autopsy conducted last Friday revealed that the girls died from suffocation, leading to a homicide ruling according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office. Reports indicate each of the children had plastic bags over their heads and their wrists were secured with zip ties, as stated in court documents obtained by ABC News.
Their father, Travis Decker, is currently a fugitive wanted in connection with their deaths. His vehicle was retrieved from the location where the girls were found. The sheriff’s office noted that a significant amount of evidence, including several personal items belonging to Decker, was gathered from the truck. However, the analysis of this evidence has raised additional questions requiring further investigation.
Blood samples collected from the scene included both human and non-human traces. Previous court documents also indicated that the truck’s tailgate had what appeared to be two bloody handprints. The sheriff’s office revealed that ongoing DNA and fingerprint analyses are in progress as part of the criminal investigation.
Additionally, the suspect’s dog has been recovered and handed over to a humane society for care, as confirmed by the sheriff’s office.
Federal authorities are now spearheading the search for Decker, having combed through hundreds of square miles. Law enforcement has scoured forested areas and multiple structures where Decker was last reported to be. Decker is currently homeless, often living in his vehicle or at various local motels and campgrounds. He faces charges of three counts each of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping. An Army veteran with notable training, he was deployed to Afghanistan in 2014, although his current armament status remains unknown.
Arianna Cozart, the attorney representing Whitney Decker, the mother of the deceased girls and ex-wife of Travis Decker, stated last week that he faced mental health challenges, including PTSD, and had difficulty accessing support through veteran resources. “The courts didn’t fail these girls. It wasn’t the judge and it wasn’t Whitney; it was our system,” Cozart remarked.
She noted that although Decker had a history of mental instability that resulted in restrictions on overnight visits and regional outings with his daughters, there were no apparent warnings before their tragic disappearance.
Travis Decker is described as standing 5 feet 8 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a light-colored shirt and dark shorts. Officials have confirmed that Decker’s father has flown in to assist detectives with the case.
Authorities urge anyone with information about Decker’s whereabouts to promptly contact 911.
ABC News’ Megan Forrester contributed to this report.