Bear Creek, ID – A possible sighting of Travis Decker, the Washington father accused of killing his three young daughters, has been reported in the remote Bear Creek area of Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest. The sighting was made by a family camping southeast of Stanley, Idaho, on Saturday, July 5.
The family described the man they saw as standing between 5-foot 8-inches and 5-foot 10-inches, wearing a black mesh cap, black gauged earrings, a cream-colored T-shirt, black shorts, and either Converse or Vans shoes.
They also reported that the man had a long ponytail, an overgrown beard and mustache, and was wearing a black Garmin watch. He was carrying a black JanSport backpack. The family said the man avoided eye contact and did not respond when they tried to talk to him.
Background on Travis Decker’s Manhunt
Travis Decker, 39, has been the target of a nationwide manhunt since June 2, when his daughters Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, were found dead near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington. He is wanted on first-degree murder and kidnapping charges. The deaths of his daughters were ruled homicides by suffocation.
Law enforcement believes that Decker, an Army veteran, is capable of surviving in remote wilderness areas due to his extensive survival skills. Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison has said that Decker has spent long periods living off the grid, making it possible for him to survive in rugged terrain for weeks or even months.
The Latest Sightings and Investigation
This is the second reported sighting of Decker in Idaho. An earlier report from McCall, Idaho in June was later determined to be a false alarm. The U.S. Marshals Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force is actively investigating this latest sighting and has urged the public to come forward with any information.
Authorities also believe that Decker may have been injured, based on blood evidence found at the original crime scene in Washington. On July 1, it was confirmed that DNA from blood found on the tailgate of Decker’s abandoned truck matched his profile.
His wallet and cellphone were also recovered at the scene. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office speculates that the blood may have come from an injury, though the exact severity of the injury is unclear.
Sheriff Morrison has mentioned that there are various possibilities about how Decker could have been injured, suggesting that it could have been from a fall, or perhaps an infected injury that caused further complications.
In the worst-case scenario, he believes Decker could have drowned. Authorities are keeping their focus on finding Decker alive, though they are also prepared to investigate further if he is found deceased.
The Tragic Deaths of Decker’s Daughters
The discovery of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia’s bodies followed a missing persons report on May 30, when they failed to return from a scheduled visit with their father. The cause of death was ruled as suffocation, and the manner of death was determined to be homicide by the Chelan County Medical Examiner.
Support for the Girls’ Mother
As of Monday, a GoFundMe campaign set up for the girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, has raised over $1.2 million to help support her during this difficult time.