Fox News Channel offers its audiences in-depth news reporting, along with opinion and analysis encompassing the principles of free people, free markets and diversity of thought, as an alternative to the left-of-center offerings of the news marketplace.
Authorities have confirmed the human remains found in the Washington wilderness belong to the military veteran believed to have killed his three young daughters at a local campground earlier this year.
The discovery marks the end of a three-month-long manhunt for Travis Decker, a military veteran and wilderness survivalist who vanished after authorities discovered the bodies of his three daughters – Paityn Decker, 9; Evelyn Decker, 8; and Olivia Decker, 5 – at a Chelan County campground on June 2. 'Certainly pay respects to the deaths of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia, we wanted to show honor to them, let them know we haven't forgot about them,' Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said in a news conference Wednesday, according to FOX 13. FEDS DECLARE TRAVIS DECKER DEAD AS THEY DROP CASE, BUT SHERIFF STILL WAITING FOR DNA ON FUGITIVE DAD Last week, authorities uncovered human remains on Grindstone Mountain, located approximately 0.75 miles from where the girls’ bodies were found at Rock Island Campground. Investigators subsequently confirmed the remains belonged to Decker following DNA testing. 'We are glad to say that those remains do come back as a positive match for Travis Decker,' Morrison said. 'It's a big day for the Chelan County Sheriff's Office and all our federal partners that we can finally bring a close to this dark chapter of Chelan County.' The discovery followed a notable breakthrough in the case, after a Spokane County Sheriff’s Office dive team discovered a key fob belonging to Decker in nearby Icicle Creek. The evidence led search teams from numerous law enforcement agencies to perform grid searches in the area. TRAVIS DECKER'S REMAINS BELIEVED TO BE LOCATED BY WASHINGTON OFFICIALS: SHERIFF'S OFFICE On Sept. 18, investigators discovered Decker’s remains, along with a shirt, pair of shorts, bracelet and chewing tobacco consistent with belonging to the missing fugitive. Human remains were also recovered and sent to the Washington State Crime Lab for testing. Last year, Decker’s ex-wife, Whitney Decker, reportedly filed a petition to modify the family’s parenting plan, citing his worsening mental health issues. The filing asked for Decker – who had been living out of his truck and at various campgrounds in the area – to be restricted from having overnight visits with their three daughters until he secured housing. The girls were reported missing by their mother after Decker failed to return them from a court-mandated custody visit, sparking a search that ended with their bodies being found near Decker’s abandoned truck in a local campground. According to police, the girls' bodies were found with plastic bags over their heads and had been bound with zip ties. An autopsy determined the girls’ cause of death to be suffocation. BONES FOUND IN TRAVIS DECKER MANHUNT ARE NOT HUMAN, FBI SAYS AMID SEARCH FOR SUSPECTED KILLER DAD Decker was an Army infantryman from March 2013 to July 2021, according to FOX 13. He had been deployed to Afghanistan for four months in 2014, and possessed extensive training in wilderness navigation. He was facing state charges of first-degree murder and first-degree kidnapping, along with a federal charge of unlawful flight to avoid prosecution. This week, federal prosecutors moved to dismiss Decker's federal case after the U.S. Marshals Service declared he had been found dead. However, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office did not confirm Decker's death until the DNA test results were returned. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP 'To Whitney, we apologize it’s taken this long to get the closure we were looking for in this case,' Morrison said. 'But I hope you can rest easier at night knowing Travis is accounted for. He is deceased, our DNA results confirmed that and this will bring a close to our case.' Fox News Digital's Adam Sabes contributed to this report.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Fugitive Dad Travis Decker Dead, Federal Case Dismissed, But State Charges RemainFederal authorities dropped their case against Travis Decker, the fugitive father suspected of killing his three daughters, after announcing his death. While the federal case is dismissed, local authorities in Washington state are still awaiting confirmation after possibly finding his body during a manhunt. Decker still faces state murder and kidnapping charges.
Read more »
Travis Decker's DNA is 'perfect' match to remains found in Leavenworth, WADNA analysis confirmed the human remains belonged to Travis Decker, bringing an end to the months-long triple-murder case.
Read more »
Travis Decker manhunt: Remains positively identified as fugitive fatherHuman remains found near a remote wooded area have been positively identified as Travis Decker, the father accused of killing his three kids, officials said.
Read more »
WATCH LIVE: DNA evidence confirms Travis Decker is dead, says Chelan County sheriffThe Chelan County Sheriff's Office is set to hold a press conference on Thursday at 4 p.m. following a recent development in the Travis Decker case.
Read more »
Travis Decker's DNA is 'perfect' match to remains found in Leavenworth, WADNA analysis confirmed the human remains belonged to Travis Decker, bringing an end to the months-long triple-murder case.
Read more »
Travis Decker 'case closed:' Here's what Chelan County sheriff said about DNA match'We can finally bring a close to a dark chapter in Chelan County. To Whitney, we apologize it took us this long to get closure.'
Read more »