Travis Decker Declared Dead 3 Months After Allegedly Killing Daughters

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The search for Travis Decker has concluded. 

After a three-month search, U.S. Marshals have declared 32-year-old Matthew Decker deceased, according to legal documents obtained by TMZ. Decker was wanted for allegedly killing his three daughters – Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5) – and then disappearing. His ex-wife is Whitney Decker.

TopMob News has contacted the U.S. Marshals Service for more information, but they haven’t responded yet.

Authorities have now confirmed the death of Decker, just days after discovering remains believed to be his in Washington state. This discovery came after the murders of his three daughters, which occurred in May.

Although authorities haven’t officially confirmed the identity, early evidence indicates the remains likely belong to Travis Decker, according to a statement from the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office to ABC News.

Soon after the discovery of the remains, the lawyer for his ex-partner, Arianna Cozart, stated that the family was hoping the remains belonged to him.

The Decker family expressed their continued gratitude for the work of law enforcement on this case. They are also deeply thankful for the outpouring of love, compassion, and support Whitney received from people around the world.

Police started looking for Decker when he didn’t bring his three daughters back to their mother after a scheduled visit on May 30th. This visit was arranged as part of the divorce settlement he and his ex-partner reached in 2022.

Authorities discovered the bodies of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia at Rock Island Campground near Leavenworth, Washington. Nearby, they also found the abandoned truck and personal items belonging to Jason Decker, who was then charged with their murders. Investigations later revealed the girls had died from suffocation.

Over the following months, officials stated they were getting closer to finding Decker. They also requested privacy for the family as they dealt with the devastating event, and confirmed last month that his DNA was found at the crime scene.

While the search continued, Whitney honored her daughters at a memorial service in June, sharing stories about their lively and unique personalities.

She said she hoped the girls would always be remembered and cherished, describing them as amazing individuals.

For more information on the case, keep reading…

Travis Decker faces charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping following the deaths of his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5. Authorities allege he is responsible for their deaths.

Officials said Travis, who had two daughters with his former wife, Whitney Decker, had been living in a white 2017 GMC Sierra truck, as well as various motels and campgrounds.

The veteran, who has struggled with his mental health, was required to work on these issues to maintain a relationship with his daughters. Court documents from September 2024 show he was ordered to complete anger management and attend counseling at least twice a month.

As we agreed in the divorce, I get to see my daughters every other weekend. It works like this: I drop them off with their mom on Fridays at 8 p.m., Saturdays at 7 p.m., and Sundays at 5 p.m. It’s a schedule that allows me to spend quality time with them while still respecting their mom’s time and routine.

According to court documents filed on June 3rd, Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia were last seen on May 30th when Travis picked them up from Whitney’s house for a scheduled visit.

According to court documents, Whitney stated the interaction had gone smoothly, but Travis, who was struggling with his mental health, seemed unusually quiet – a change in behavior that Whitney observed.

When Travis didn’t bring the girls back by 8 p.m., Whitney tried reaching him repeatedly before calling the police.

As a lifestyle expert, I was deeply saddened to hear about the tragic events unfolding in Wenatchee. Initially, the police were searching for three young girls – Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia. Sadly, just three days later, they confirmed the worst: the girls were found deceased at the Rock Island Campground, near a car abandoned by their parents, Travis and Whitney. Investigators discovered two bloody handprints on the vehicle, adding to the heartbreaking nature of this case.

The Chelan County Medical Examiner determined that the girls died from suffocation and ruled their deaths as homicides.

According to a statement released in August, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office reported that two of the victims were found with two bags over their heads, and the third victim had three. Authorities also discovered several cable ties near the bodies.

The Washington State Crime Lab found Travis’s DNA on the plastic bags and cable ties used in the crimes. Based on this evidence, investigators believe he acted alone in committing the homicides.

I’m absolutely losing it! They’re still searching for Travis, you guys, near Rock Island – the police, even the US Marshals and the National Guard are out there! But the Sheriff’s Office put out a statement yesterday… it’s awful. They said they don’t *know* if he’s even still alive, or even *in* the area anymore. I just… I need him to be okay. It’s so scary, and I’m just clinging to hope that they find him soon.

Initially promising leads weakened over the past two weeks of the search, the statement explained. However, authorities are determined to continue, as Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker deserve justice, and Decker poses a public threat while still on the run.

The sheriff’s office stated in August that they still haven’t found Decker and are continuing to search for him.

Whitney shared a heartfelt message about her daughters, describing them as being born with loving and kind spirits.

At the memorial service in June, she told the attendees how Evy would have admired everyone’s outfits, saying they all looked beautiful. She explained that Paityn always complimented people – anyone she met, whether at the grocery store, school, or even with family.

After her divorce from Travis, Whitney made it a habit of asking her daughters to name three feelings they were experiencing each day.

Oh, Paityn? She was *always* telling me everything! Seriously, every single little detail of her day, and there were *so* many details! She’d even cut her sisters off just to make sure I knew what she was up to. It was adorable, honestly. And Ev? Well, Ev and I had our special moments. We’d snuggle up at bedtime and she’d finally open up about how she was *really* feeling, because she wasn’t always comfortable sharing with her sisters. It was just our little thing.

She and Olivia were still trying to find the right words to express how she felt, but they agreed that she was always, at least, ‘happy’.

The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office shared that they are shifting their strategy. 

On June 23th, the office released a statement saying that while they continue to search for the fugitive, they are also working to find Travis’ body, in case he died while in the wilderness. They also mentioned that the US Marshals are now focusing their search for Decker on areas outside of our immediate region.

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2025-09-24 23:19