UPDATE June 10: Community Alert Remains Active in Ingalls Creek and Valley Hi Area
Law enforcement continues to focus search efforts in the Ingalls Creek and Valley Hi area as the search for Travis Decker intensifies. A community alert remains in place, and residents are asked to stay alert, secure their homes and vehicles, and immediately report any suspicious activity to 911. A visible law enforcement presence will continue in the area as a precaution. Authorities emphasize that public safety remains the top priority.
WENATCHEE, WA – The investigation into the murder of three young children in Chelan County continues to unfold, as authorities announced today that federal agencies have taken command of the search operations for their father, Travis C. Decker, the primary suspect in the case.
According to an update released Monday morning by the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office (CCSO), investigators are still analyzing a significant amount of evidence recovered from the crime scene, including personal items believed to belong to Decker, as well as blood samples and other forensic material. One of the blood samples has been confirmed to be from a male, while another was identified as non-human. DNA and fingerprint testing is ongoing.
An autopsy completed Friday confirmed that the children died by suffocation, and the deaths have been officially ruled homicides. The children’s bodies were discovered on June 2 near Decker’s abandoned truck at Rock Island Campground, in a remote area of the county. Each child was found with a plastic bag over their head and zip tie marks on their bodies. Evidence found near the scene included zip ties, plastic bags, and signs of a recently used campsite.
Decker picked up his three children—ages five, eight, and nine—from their mother’s Wenatchee home on May 30 for a scheduled visitation. He failed to return them that evening and missed two additional court-ordered exchange times over the following days. Their mother, Whitney Decker, reported the children missing on June 1, citing concerns for their safety and their father’s mental state.
Cellphone data, license plate readers, and community canvassing were used to track the Decker’s movements, revealing a troubling timeline. Authorities believe he traveled to the Rock Island area on May 29 and returned to Wenatchee the next day, after allegedly committing the murders.
As of Sunday evening, CCSO transferred search command to federal authorities due to the scale of the operation and the need to rest local teams. Officials did not specify which federal agencies are involved. The sheriff’s office emphasized that it remains in charge of the ongoing criminal investigation and will continue to support search efforts as new leads emerge.
“We understand the frustration many citizens have in not having all of the details,” CCSO stated. “There is law enforcement sensitive information that is not shared with the public in order to protect the integrity of the investigation.”
Search efforts by land, air, and water continue across hundreds of square miles. Decker remains at large. Authorities are urging the public to remain alert and report any information that could assist in locating him.