A father accused of binding his young daughters’ hands and suffocating them with plastic bags has vanished into the Washington wilderness, using his military survival training to evade capture for three weeks while authorities scramble to track him down.
At a Glance
- Travis Decker, a military-trained survivalist, is accused of murdering his three daughters aged 9, 8, and 5, who were found with plastic bags over their heads and hands bound
- The manhunt has entered its third week, focusing on remote wilderness areas including Teanaway Valley and Blewett Pass
- A possible sighting of Decker near Colchuck Lake led to an intensive search, but the suspect evaded capture
- Authorities are offering a $20,000 reward for information leading to Decker’s arrest
- False reports of Decker’s capture have circulated on social media, which officials have explicitly denied
A Father’s Horrific Crime and Disappearance
The nightmare began when Travis Decker failed to return his three young daughters from a court-mandated visitation on May 30. What followed was the discovery of a crime scene so horrific it’s hard to comprehend – the bodies of his daughters, aged 9, 8, and 5, found near a campsite with plastic bags over their heads and their hands bound. Now, as Decker leverages his military survival training to hide in the wilderness, authorities are in a desperate race against time to bring this alleged child-killer to justice before he disappears completely.
This isn’t just any manhunt. We’re talking about a suspect with specialized skills that make him uniquely equipped to vanish into the vast Washington wilderness. The search has intensified in the Teanaway Valley and Blewett Pass areas, remote regions with dense forests and challenging terrain that provide endless hiding places for someone with Decker’s training. While authorities consider him armed and dangerous, they’ve stated he doesn’t pose a general threat to the public – cold comfort to residents who know a triple child-murderer might be lurking in their backwoods.
Military Training Meets Wilderness Survival
What makes this manhunt particularly challenging is Decker’s background. As a military-trained survivalist, he possesses skills that the average fugitive doesn’t have – navigation without electronics, foraging for food, building shelters, and evading detection. These abilities make him a particularly elusive target, especially in the vast wilderness of Washington state. The man knows how to disappear, and he’s putting those skills to work while authorities scramble to catch up. It’s like trying to find a needle in a haystack, except the needle knows all the search techniques you’re using.
“If you have trail cameras or doorbell cameras, please check them for suspicious activity. If you have residences in these areas, check them for anything missing – no matter how small or seemingly insignificant.” – Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office
Last week, search teams reported they had “spotted a lone, off-trail hiker from a helicopter” near Colchuck Lake, believed to be Decker. But despite deploying significant resources to the area, the suspect managed to slip away again. It’s becoming a pattern that has authorities increasingly frustrated – they get close, but Decker’s wilderness savvy allows him to stay one step ahead. The U.S. Marshals Service is leading the search with assistance from the Washington National Guard, bringing in specialized equipment and personnel, but so far, their quarry remains elusive.
Misinformation and Community Alert
In this age of instant information, it’s no surprise that false reports have already begun circulating. A fabricated TikTok video recently claimed Decker had been captured, forcing authorities to issue a correction. “To be clear, Mr. Decker is not in custody and CCSO had no part in making the video,” officials stated bluntly. This kind of misinformation doesn’t just waste resources – it potentially endangers the public by creating a false sense of security when a dangerous fugitive remains at large. It’s a stark reminder of how social media can sometimes hinder rather than help law enforcement efforts.
As the search enters its third week, authorities have released updated images showing possible changes in Decker’s appearance and are urging residents to remain vigilant. They’ve implemented a $20,000 reward for information leading to his arrest – a substantial sum that reflects the severity of his alleged crimes and the urgency of bringing him to justice. Decker faces charges of three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping – charges that, if convicted, would likely mean he’ll never see freedom again. Perhaps that’s exactly why he’s fighting so hard to avoid capture.
