Post by : Rameen Ariff

Washington, US – Forensic tests have confirmed that human remains found on Grindstone Mountain in Washington state this month belong to Travis Decker, the former soldier who was wanted for killing his three young daughters last year.

Decker’s remains were discovered on a remote, steep, wooded slope, less than a mile (1.6 km) from the campsite where the bodies of his daughters – Paityn Decker (9), Evelyn Decker (8), and Olivia Decker (5) – were found on June 2, 2025, according to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office.

Law enforcement officers had been searching for Decker, 32, for over three months. DNA tests from his remains and clothing found at the site confirmed his identity. Sheriff Mike Morrison expressed condolences to the girls’ mother, Whitney Decker, and said, “I hope you can rest easier at night knowing that Travis is accounted for.”

Decker had taken his daughters on a scheduled visit but failed to return them to their mother. Whitney Decker had previously raised concerns about his mental health issues and unstable behavior, filing petitions to restrict his overnight visits.

Authorities discovered the girls’ bodies and Decker’s truck three days after he failed to return them. Autopsies revealed the children had been suffocated.

Travis Decker served in the U.S. Army from March 2013 to July 2021 and was deployed to Afghanistan for four months in 2014. He had survival and navigation training, and investigators noted that he had previously survived for more than two months off the grid in the wilderness.

Over 100 officials from state and federal agencies searched hundreds of square miles, including mountains, forests, and lakes. The U.S. Marshals Service had offered a $20,000 reward for information leading to his capture. At one point, hikers reported a possible sighting near a remote alpine lake, but it was not confirmed.

Officials say the coroner’s office is still working to determine the exact cause and time of Decker’s death. The case brought attention to child safety, mental health, and law enforcement coordination in remote areas.