DNA Confirms Travis Decker’s Death, Ending Four-Month Manhunt in Chelan County

Chelan County, WA – The extensive four-month search for Travis Decker, the Army veteran accused of killing his three young daughters, has officially concluded with DNA results confirming his death. Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison announced Thursday that highly anticipated lab results positively linked Decker’s DNA to human remains discovered less than a mile from where his daughters – Olivia, 5; Evelyn, 8; and Paityn, 9 – were tragically found dead in June.

Sheriff Morrison emphasized his insistence on a second round of DNA testing to ensure absolute certainty, dispelling any potential conspiracy theories. The confirmation comes two days after federal prosecutors prematurely indicated Decker’s death in a court filing, a declaration Morrison had deemed premature without the conclusive lab results.

Authorities located the remains a week prior on a steep, densely vegetated slope. The discovery included skeletal fragments and clothing matching what Travis Decker was last seen wearing. While initial DNA results linking clothing to Decker came back Monday, Morrison awaited separate tests on the bodily remains to eliminate any doubt.

The Chelan County coroner is still working to determine the exact cause and time of Decker’s death. His remains, clothing, and a can of chewing tobacco were spotted by a drone, approximately 1,200 feet above the location where his daughters’ bodies were found near the Rock Island Campground.

Morrison credited State Patrol operational psychologist Stacy Cecchet for guiding searchers to the precise area on Grindstone Mountain. He also extended apologies to Whitney Decker, the girls’ mother, for the prolonged search, expressing hope that she can now find some peace. Law enforcement agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service, were lauded for their crucial support in the challenging operation. Detectives are now finalizing the criminal investigation, confident there are no other suspects or leads. Morrison described the event as “one of the most horrific crimes we’ve seen in Chelan County,” expressing relief to bring this dark chapter to a close.

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