At first I thought it was pretty likely he self-ended in the same area. But now knowing more about his history, he has mountain survival skills from the Rangers.
Authorities are searching for the father of three young Wenatchee girls, ages 5, 8, and 9, after they were found dead.
www.fox13seattle.com
Who is Travis Decker? What to know about the Wenatchee, WA father wanted for murder
According to authorities, he is a former military member with extensive training.
FOX 13 Seattle confirmed with a spokesperson with the Washington National Guard that Decker was a member.
He transferred to the organization in 2021 from the Active Component – and has been pending a disciplinary discharge for not showing up to his monthly drills. The last drill he attended was about a year ago.
Travis Decker shows up in several social media posts from current and past members of the armed forces. Based on FOX 13 Seattle’s review of those accounts and other social media profiles, Decker likely has
advanced infantry combat training. Multiple Facebook and Instagram posts show Decker show he was an airborne paratrooper who earned his elite ‘Ranger’ tab – meaning he has
elite wilderness evasion and survival skills. A different social media profile under his name claims he qualified as an instructor at the US Army’s National Guard Warrior Training Center at Fort Benning, Georgia.
The search for military-trained suspect Travis Decker continues as authorities investigate the tragic deaths of his daughters.
mynorthwest.com
Manhunt continues in Chelan County woods for military-trained father accused of killing daughters
The search continues for 32-year-old Travis Decker, who is accused of
killing his three young daughters at a campground near Leavenworth. Authorities warn that his
advanced military training could help him survive for months in the remote wilderness.
Decker’s survival skills, which he gained during a 2014 deployment to Afghanistan, are proving to be obstacles for search teams. However, law enforcement is hopeful he will be spotted. The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office released a photo depicting his tattoos.
The sheriff’s office is also asking citizens who own cabins or live near remote areas of Chelan, Kittitas, King, Snohomish, and Okanogan counties to be aware Decker is on the run.
“We are asking for those owners to lock all of their doors, to include any sheds, outbuildings, and leave their window blinds open, and we recommend leaving outside lights on,” the agency stated.
A former U.S. Army Ranger with
specialized training in mountain warfare and wilderness survival, Decker is believed to have escaped into the thick forests of central Washington. The bodies of his daughters,
Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5), were found Monday near his abandoned vehicle at the Rock Island Campground in Wenatchee.
Search crews from the FBI, U.S. Marshals, Border Patrol, Homeland Security, and the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office are continuing an intensive ground and aerial search with helicopters, drones, and tracking teams.
“He’s
specifically trained in mountain warfare,” crime reporter Steve Hickey said. “They are extremely concerned about what this man is capable of. According to his training, he is
able to sustain himself for months on end, and he is capable of continuing on.”
Sheriff Mike Morrison confirmed during a press conference Wednesday that Decker is “well-versed in wilderness survival,” and that law enforcement
believes he may have taken gear from his vehicle before vanishing into the forest.
“We are unsure if Mr. Decker is currently alive, so we are taking it that he is still out there,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said. “We will not rest until we’ve located him, whether he’s alive or he’s dead, we want to make sure he’s brought back.”
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$20,000 reward has been offered for information leading to Decker’s arrest. Authorities ask anyone with relevant tips to call the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office tip line at
509-667-6845 or submit tips online.
www.krem.com
