Male Blood Found at Campsite Where Three Young Sisters Were Killed as Search for Their Father Intensifies

Investigators searching for a Washington state father accused of killing his three young daughters discovered male blood at the campsite where the girls’ bodies were found, adding another piece of evidence to a case that shocked the community in June 2025.

Travis Caleb Decker, 32, was charged with murder and kidnapping after his daughters, Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5, were discovered dead near a campground in the Cascade Mountains. At the time, authorities were conducting an extensive manhunt across rugged wilderness areas.

Three Sisters Found Dead After Scheduled Visit

The investigation began on May 30, 2025, when Decker failed to return his daughters to their mother’s home in Wenatchee, Washington, after a scheduled visit.

Three days later, a sheriff’s deputy located Decker’s abandoned pickup truck near Rock Island Campground outside Leavenworth. Authorities searching the area subsequently found the three girls’ bodies down an embankment.

Investigators said the children had been bound with zip ties and had plastic bags placed over their heads. Autopsies determined that all three died from suffocation.

The discovery left their family and the local community devastated, while investigators worked to establish what had happened and locate their father.

Blood Evidence Found at the Scene

Authorities announced that laboratory testing had identified one blood sample collected at the campsite as belonging to a male. Another sample was determined to have come from an animal.

Investigators also reported finding two bloody handprints on the tailgate of Decker’s truck. However, officials did not initially confirm whether the tested male blood sample came from those handprints.

At that stage, DNA and fingerprint analyses were still pending. The blood evidence was part of a broader investigation intended to establish what occurred before and after the girls’ deaths.

Decker’s dog was also found alive at the scene and was transferred to an animal welfare organization for care.

A Search Across Difficult Terrain

Authorities expanded their search across hundreds of square miles of mountainous and remote terrain. Federal agencies, including the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service, assisted local investigators.

Officials said Decker had military experience and extensive outdoor survival skills. He had served in the U.S. Army from 2013 to 2021, including a deployment to Afghanistan, and authorities described him as experienced in navigation and wilderness survival.

Investigators also examined information about his movements before the killings. Court documents indicated that he had searched online for information about relocating to Canada and finding employment there.

Authorities urged residents in the surrounding region to secure their homes and vehicles and report any possible sightings. They warned the public not to approach him.

DNA Evidence Later Strengthened the Case

In August 2025, the Washington State Crime Lab reported that DNA profiles matching Decker had been found on the plastic bags placed over his daughters’ heads and on cable ties collected at the scene. DNA from the girls was also found on the bags.

Investigators said the results provided additional evidence identifying Decker as the sole suspect in the killings.

The search continued for months, with authorities examining new leads and searching remote areas.

Authorities Later Confirmed Decker Was Dead

In September 2025, authorities confirmed that human remains discovered in a remote wooded area of Washington state belonged to Decker following DNA testing.

The discovery brought the months-long manhunt to an end. Officials said the limited remains prevented the coroner from determining the precise cause, manner or time of his death.

The case left a community mourning Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia, three young sisters whose lives were cut short. Their deaths prompted an extensive investigation and a prolonged search that ended only after authorities identified their father’s remains.

Source:cbsnews