Law enforcement officials have halted their search in the Idaho forest for a man initially thought to be Travis Decker, the fugitive wanted in connection with the tragic killings of his three daughters. The U.S. Marshals confirmed that, after following up on a lead, they located and identified the individual, ruling him out as Decker. Derryl Spencer, chief deputy U.S. Marshal for the District of Idaho, stated, “The person reported by the tipster was located and identified. We have confirmed this was not the fugitive.”
The search began after reports surfaced that a man matching Decker’s description was seen in the Sawtooth National Forest, located east of Boise, Idaho. On June 2, 2023, the bodies of Decker’s daughters, aged 9, 8, and 5, were discovered in a remote area east of Seattle. Law enforcement officials reported that the girls had been zip-tied and had bags placed over their heads.
Decker, 32, has been evading authorities since he failed to return his daughters from a scheduled visitation on May 30, 2023. Michael Leigh, supervisory deputy with the U.S. Marshal’s Service in Idaho, indicated that the search is no longer concentrated in Idaho, as investigators continue to develop leads.
Authorities have previously classified Decker, an active member of the Washington State National Guard, as an avid outdoorsman who could survive for extended periods in the wilderness. Despite numerous reported sightings, law enforcement has noted that he has only been confirmed as seen once, in early June, in the Blewitt Pass area of Washington State.
Decker is wanted on multiple serious charges, including three counts of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and unlawful flight to avoid prosecution, a federal charge. As the investigation progresses, officials remain vigilant in their efforts to locate him and ensure justice is served for the three young victims.
