Human remains found in Washington believed to be father wanted for killing daughters – Police

Authorities in Washington state say human remains found in a remote wooded area are believed to be those of a man wanted for the murders of his three young daughters earlier this summer.

The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that while formal identification is pending, preliminary findings indicate the remains belong to 32-year-old Travis Decker.

The discovery was made south of Leavenworth in a rugged, heavily forested part of the state.

Decker had been the subject of a wide-ranging manhunt since 2 June, when police discovered the bodies of his daughters — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 — at a remote campground. Officers also found his abandoned truck and mobile phone at the scene.

The girls’ mother first alerted authorities on 30 May after Decker failed to return them home to Wenatchee following a scheduled visit and stopped responding to her calls.

He was subsequently wanted on charges of kidnapping and three counts of first-degree murder.

Investigators believe Decker had been hiding in the mountainous terrain since the killings. His death, if confirmed, will close a case that has shaken communities across central Washington.

“This has been an incredibly tragic case from the beginning,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement.

“Our thoughts remain with the family of these three young girls as they continue to grieve an unimaginable loss.”

Authorities said forensic testing would confirm the identity of the remains in the coming days.