Sheriff reveals why they're convinced on-the-run killer dad Travis Decker is alive... and may be getting help
The sheriff's office hunting for Travis Decker, the Washington State father on the run after allegedly killing his three daughters, believes he is still alive and may be getting help.
The 32-year-old fugitive allegedly strangled his three children - Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight, and Olivia, five - and left their bodies near Rock Island Campground on June 2.
As the search for Decker continues, Chelan County Sheriff Michael Morrison revealed authorities have been getting several leads on his whereabouts - perhaps hinting that Decker is still alive.
'Our primary focus has just remained on the investigation, but we are tracking down leads,' Morrison told News Nation, adding that all of the teams working to track Decker down have reinstated search and rescue operations and are following up on all information given to them.
When asked if he believes the veteran is getting help, the sheriff said he wasn't 'quite sure,' but could have possibly 'staged some supplies beforehand.'
Morrison went on to note that those who are 'sympathetic' towards Decker are not helping the investigation.
'There are some that may be sympathetic to his cause, which I think would be misguided. I mean, he's accused of murder, not just once but three times, and he is a danger,' he told the outlet.
'For those that might have sympathy towards him, please allow the opportunity for us to do our job. Set up that opportunity for him to be in front of our courts, and if he has different information he'd like to present and he thinks there's a way he could clear his name, let's go through the proper channels.
'As far as we can see he is still our suspect of interest, a subject we want to take into custody, and we want to set up that meeting where he can stand in front of our courts and speak his side of the story,' he added.
Federal officials recently shared three new images of what the wanted man could now look like after being on the run for more than two weeks.
The Chelan County Sheriff's Office created three updated pictures of the suspect, each depicting a different way he could have altered his features.
Authorities also shared a message to Washington residents, stating the veteran is 'considered dangerous and may be armed.'
'Do not approach, call 911 immediately!' the wanted poster read.
The manipulated images were made based on a photo of Decker posed in front of a landscape wearing a blue shirt and baseball cap, in which he has a beard, mustache and an earring. His hair is grown out to his neck.
The first variation of his potential altered appearance showed Decker wearing no hat with a buzz cut and clean shaven facial hair.
Another image showed Decker with a mustache and a buzzcut without a beard.
In the third option, Decker has shoulder-length hair, no facial hair and is wearing a baseball cap.
He has been missing since May 30, when he failed to return the three little girls back to their mother, Whitney, after a visit.
Whitney, who is divorced from Decker, told police that he had picked the girls up around 5pm but had not returned them by 8pm, and his phone went straight to voicemail, court documents said.
Detectives said she 'expressed concern because Decker reportedly has never done this before and … is currently experiencing some mental health issues.'
She also told law enforcement officials that Decker was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and believes he did not take medication for the condition, according to court documents.
On June 2, a search party led to the chilling discovery of the sisters' dead bodies near the Chelan County campsite along with Decker's truck.
An autopsy revealed the girls died from suffocation and police reported their wrists were zip-tied when they were found, per court records.
Police collected 'a large amount of evidence' from the truck, including male blood and non-human blood.
The alleged killer's dog was found nearby as well and taken to an animal humane society, Fox 8 reported.
Newly released audio revealed Decker pleaded for more custody time to go camping with his daughters just months before their lifeless bodies were found.
In the audio, which is from a September 2024 custody hearing, Decker made an eerie promise that no harm would come to the girls if he's given more time to take them camping in Washington State's wilderness.
His visitation time with the girls had earlier been reduced after his ex-wife raised concerns over his declining mental health, alleged endangerment, and lack of stability.
She was given near-full custody while Decker was only allowed to visit every other weekend for a set number of hours. Frustrated with the lack of time with his daughters, Decker pleaded with a family court judge to restore access to the girls - claiming he'd never put them in danger.
'Every time I've had the girls, we have been in campsites and national forests and paid campsites that have campers,' he said in the audio.
'We've never done anything that was unsafe, or anything I wouldn't want to put myself in.'
'I understand that my current position when I'm by myself isn't ideal, but my daughters aren't a part of that,' Decker continued.
'I only get to see them over the weekends, and camping is something that the four of us have done since the three of them were in diapers.'
He emphasized again that he's never put his daughters at risk - and brings them to camp sights that are 'sold out.'
Decker is charged with three counts of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping.
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