Found Deceased WA - Olivia 5, Evelyn 8 & Paityn Decker 9, found dead, Wenatchee, 30 May 2025 *father, Travis Decker 32, found dead* #3

[Lalalacasbah]

In May there likely was still water sources left in that area. One of the closets hiking trails near there is the Chatter Creek trail. He could have walked to that in about 40 mins from the Rock Island campground spot. It's possible that he hiked to the Chatter Creek trailhead and hiked up that trail to around the 4,000 ft level and then at some point decided to go off trail and traverse into the dense forest and disappear.

Chatter Creek

No matter how you tackle it, this hike is a workout. March through thick Ponderosa forests up to subalpine larch stands and a view from the pass, with options to continue on for a small alpine lake with backcountry campsites and access to other wilderness trails.

www.wta.org

Rock Island Campground to Chatter Creek Trailhead

maps.app.goo.gl

That area has far less activity and hikers vs the Enchantment region and probably chose it for that reason.

Good info!

Ya, wonder if we went there specifically to die. If suicide, wonder if he left a note?

 

[Twistinginthewind]

Good info!

Ya, wonder if we went there specifically to die. If suicide, wonder if he left a note?

Probably, IMO, he found a spot nearby but way above elevation-wise where he could be on the lookout from on high at LE responses to the scene.

Whether he crumbled into a death spiral mentally or physically while up there on his perch, from lack of water, food, or meds/drugs, or just couldn't go on anymore and didn't want to after doing what he did, is anyone's guess.

Personally, I wouldn't expect him to have left a note of any kind, because he was a depraved unwell murderous man, who went off grid nearby where he murdered his sweet girls for to meet his demise alone in the wilds.

No epitath needed.

 

[UsernameRequired]

Here are a few photos of the helicopter and search team rappelling and the terrain they are dealing with.

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/law-justice/travis-decker-update-discovery-of-human-remains-could-end-search/

Seattle Times: https://archive.ph/pHOMM

 

[UsernameRequired]

Here is a new interview with the Sheriff today (8 mins). A question was asked if there was any indication this person fell from a height.. he stated "No, there was nothing that showed that was the case"... but obviously they will let the medical examiner and coroner give them a clearer picture of what may have caused the death.

 

[rabidstoat]

My theory: he was seriously mentally ill and deluded, and believed that killing the girls was the best thing he could do for them. Maybe he thought that he was an awful dad, and that it wasn't fair to them to have to live with his failures, or something similarly crazy. And then he went off and killed himself. Or, maybe he knew he wanted to kill himself and, in a crazed and narcissistic state, convinced himself that the girls would be better off dead than living without him.

There could be other reasons he killed them, and I don't know if we'll ever know. Not unless he left an obvious note, and the investigators shared that note with the public (or it leaked). He might've been trying to get revenge on the mom, or something else entirely; who knows right now. The 'believing that killing them was best for the girls' is just my own personal theory.

MOO.

 

[sunspun]

It's possible that he hiked to the Chatter Creek trailhead and hiked up that trail to around the 4,000 ft level and then at some point decided to go off trail and traverse into the dense forest and disappear.

That area has far less activity and hikers vs the Enchantment region and probably chose it for that reason.

This is speculation on my part, but it sounds to me like he killed his daughters to torture their mother, and then planned to kill himself afterward, but he knew the longer his remains were undiscovered, the more their mother would suffer, since she would always have to worry about him reappearing some day.

So to prolong and increase her agony as much as he could, he left the girls' bodies where they would easily and swiftly be found, but he hiked away from their resting spot into denser and less navigable areas, climbing in elevation as the terrain became mostly impossible for humans to traverse, continued even as he made his way into almost impassable territory where he had to bushwhack his way through, until he finally went as far as he thought he could and killed himself there, knowing that his body would not be found any time soon, maybe even never be found, which would be the best outcome in his mind, because that would result in maximum suffering for his ex-wife.

I think he deluded himself into thinking that she was the cause of all his problems and the reason he was living in such a sorry state of existence and became fixated on making her suffer in turn.

I also think that he and only he was to blame for whatever went wrong in his life, and that he was one of the most despicable creatures ever born to this world. Maybe the most despicable even. I really can't think of anything worse than what he did.

It may turn out he died by accident or something else, but I feel this is the way it went, because of where he ended up, and how much effort he had to put into making his way there. Sure seems like that was his goal, to make his body harder or even impossible to find.

 

[KBlackRabbit]

Here is a new interview with the Sheriff today (8 mins). A question was asked if there was any indication this person fell from a height.. he stated "No, there was nothing that showed that was the case"... but obviously they will let the medical examiner and coroner give them a clearer picture of what may have caused the death.

He wouldn’t even have to fall from a height up there. A misstep on a rock or slippery dirt that breaks an ankle or foot and no way to call for help, that’s the end of the line. Death by exposure, dehydration, or starvation.

 

[UsernameRequired]

He wouldn’t even have to fall from a height up there. A misstep on a rock or slippery dirt that breaks an ankle or foot and no way to call for help, that’s the end of the line. Death by exposure, dehydration, or starvation.

Yes, totally. The question was more asking if there was any indication the person jumped off a cliff to end their life since it happens every so often in that area.

 

[UsernameRequired]

Updated info the Sheriff gave at the press briefing about an 1hr ago.

Clothing found matched what Travis owned; Shirts, shorts a bracelet and chewing tobacco that he was known to use. They also found additional body parts today that included two feet, some femurs and also some vertebrae. Hoping to get DNA tests results back tonight but understand that they may need more time. Someone asked if a firearm was found and it was believed there was not one discovered.

Chelan County provides update on possible Travis Decker remains found near Leavenworth​

 

[realanastasia]

Human remains found in search for Pewaukee native wanted in daughters' killings

The Chelan County Sheriff's Office says preliminary findings suggest the remains belong to Travis Decker.

www.wisn.com

 

[placard]

Finding anything, combing over every square foot or yard, is very challenging in a forest. Just surprised they found something before winter set in and nature took more of the evidence.

Good to hear its very likely it is him considering the evidence and proxmity of the area where his vehicle was found.

 

[placard]

My theory: he was seriously mentally ill and deluded, and believed that killing the girls was the best thing he could do for them. Maybe he thought that he was an awful dad, and that it wasn't fair to them to have to live with his failures, or something similarly crazy. And then he went off and killed himself. Or, maybe he knew he wanted to kill himself and, in a crazed and narcissistic state, convinced himself that the girls would be better off dead than living without him.

There could be other reasons he killed them, and I don't know if we'll ever know. Not unless he left an obvious note, and the investigators shared that note with the public (or it leaked). He might've been trying to get revenge on the mom, or something else entirely; who knows right now. The 'believing that killing them was best for the girls' is just my own personal theory.

MOO.

It's really odd that we haven't heard from his family, old friends, nothing really we know about him, any long-term mental health problems. We only have his military record that's been shared and his ex who said that he was a good father and was trying to accomodate the visits.

Someone said he'd maybe fallen into a very dark place, mentally for one reason or another and committed the act thinking that he didn't want his daughters to turn out like him. Who knows.

It was shared he tried to get help via phone calls to a chaplain. He had no home, ready to be kicked out of reserves...maybe being in the military for so long full-time, he had some comradery and support system (just living and working and being active around others.)

Or simply wanted revenge with his ex for whatever reason.

Hope someone writes a book about this and we get to know more about him and his mental state and what might have caused him to do what he did. And I believe he took his own life shortly after what he did. He could have cut himself and bled to death. We'll maybe find out.

Too many unknows about this entire story. Did authorities withhold information until they found him?

 

[Charlot123]

Thank God he has been possibly found,now Mom can get some closure and relief.

Remains believed to be murder suspect Travis Decker found near Leavenworth, authorities say

The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office says human remains that are believed to be the body of murder suspect Travis Decker have been found.

www.kptv.com

It is another difficult moment for Mom, no doubt. It is a long story, and i think it is a moment of relief mixed with yet another surge of grief. I hope that the community is supportive and there is a good circle of friends.

 

[Charlot123]

As to the "why", I guess we'll never know the answer. Who can even fathom how seriously mentally disturbed people think?

I would like to know if any substances may be still found in his remains, and of what type. I believe there was severe underlying mental illness but also, some substance use that could have worsened it. Travis's movements caught on the video after the car accident don't look normal on the video, but I can't put my finger on it.

 

[Claire_Quintette]

Good info!

Ya, wonder if we went there specifically to die. If suicide, wonder if he left a note?

 

[Seattle1]

9/19/25

Investigators are speaking about finding remains believed to be those of Travis Decker​

Additional remains were recovered on Friday.

 

[Teche]

Updated info the Sheriff gave at the press briefing about an 1hr ago.

Clothing found matched what Travis owned; Shirts, shorts a bracelet and chewing tobacco that he was known to use. They also found additional body parts today that included two feet, some femurs and also some vertebrae. Hoping to get DNA tests results back tonight but understand that they may need more time. Someone asked if a firearm was found and it was believed there was not one discovered.

Chelan County provides update on possible Travis Decker remains found near Leavenworth​

The sheriff is well-spoken, provides great details, and easy on the eyes.

 

[Snoop Sister]

I have maintained for months that Decker was not with the living. I think he murdered his daughters and then travelled less than a mile and committed suicide. I hope this situation brings more awareness and resources for those suffering from mental health issues.

 

[pukasonqo2]

https://edition.cnn.com/2025/09/19/us/travis-decker-remains-believed-found-hnk?iid=cnn_buildContentRecirc_end_recirc&recs_exp=up-next-article-end&tenant_id=related.en

I’m A bit late to the party, hopefully it is him but the question about his actions remains: why?

 

[NuttMegg]

The crime was no accident, one way or another he had to subdue 2, then 1 of them.

He probably started considering them all part of his hatred of his wife, just mirrors of their mom. Got rid of all in one fell swoop, taking the mother's sanity. Being too chicken to kill all 4 when he went to get the kids.

After all he was just a creep who slunk off less than a mile away to take some pills. No marine hero survivalist, not a guy who is marveled at because of the 4 winters he stuck it out by eating sowbugs or earwigs from under douglas fir trees.