The search for Travis Decker, the father accused of killing his three young daughters, has shifted into its fourth week, according to authorities.
Decker, 32, is wanted for first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the deaths of Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5. The sisters were discovered asphyxiated in a remote area of the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Wash., on June 2 — three days after being last seen with their father in Wenatchee, Wash., for a court-approved visitation, according to officials.
In a Facebook post on Monday, June 23, the Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office, one of several agencies involved in the manhunt, said investigators are shifting their search efforts for Decker. Authorities describe him as a former military man who has been trained in survival skills.
“At this time, there is no certain evidence that Decker remains alive or in this area,” according to the article. “After two weeks of searching, what appeared to be strong early leads gave way to less convincing proofs. Still, we can’t and won’t give up the search; Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker deserve justice. And Decker continues to endanger the public as long as he is at large.”
According to the sheriff’s office, deputies have patrolled several areas including Teanaway Valley, Blewett Pass, Liberty, and Lauderdale. They also stated that investigators spent “days and nights in remote terrain, working with K9 resources and experienced trackers to identify and follow any credible lead to Decker’s location.”
“Detectives have investigated dozens and dozens and dozens of potential sightings, tips, and leads provided by the public,” the title of the post states. The sheriff’s office added, “We still believe that raising public awareness and providing assistance is our most effective tool.”
On June 10, authorities announced that they had tracked down a “lone hiker” believed to be Decker in the Blewett Pass area near Highway 97 in Washington state, but that the subject fled when spotted by a helicopter.
“We believe we are closing in on his trail,” Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison told a press conference at the time, adding that officers had contacted some of the suspect’s friends and family.
Authorities previously stated that Decker may have fled on foot and attempted to cross into Canada after allegedly searching “how to relocate to Canada” online, according to a US Marshals Service affidavit obtained by PEOPLE.
Whitney Decker, Decker’s ex-wife and mother of their daughters, spoke out publicly for the first time last week at a memorial in Wenatchee, saying she was “so thankful for that time I had with the girls.”
“I truly hope that the legacy of the girls’ lives lives on in everyone’s heart forever,” she told the crowd. “They were incredible.”
In a statement to PEOPLE on June 6, Whitney’s attorney, Arianna Cozart, revealed that the couple split in 2022 due to his alleged “mental health struggles.”
