‘We will not stop’: Authorities say search is narrowing for father accused of killing 3 daughters

WENATCHEE, Wash. (KING) - Sheriff Mike Morrison said the net is tightening on the search for Travis Decker.

Morrison said Decker has one option left: Make a mistake. When he does, authorities will be ready.

After more than a week on the run, Morrison said Decker cannot hide forever.

“You’re going to have to be perfect every single day, Travis. We only have to be perfect one day,” he said.

Morrison confirmed that investigators have recovered items that they believe belong to Decker.

They also believe it was Decker who hikers spotted near Colchuck Lane alone, ill-equipped and avoiding people. That sighting pushed searchers deep into Blewett in some of Washington state’s most rugged terrain.

Now, the U.S. Marshals and Border Patrol have taken control of the manhunt.

“We will not stop. We will keep going. He just has to make one mistake, like the sheriff said. We will find him. He will be brought to justice so the community can heal,” a U.S. Marshall said.

Climbing experts believe Decker likely hiked nearly 20 miles from Rock Creek Campground, where his daughters’ bodies were found, up Windy , past Stuart Lake to Colchuck Lake, and then dropped 4,000 feet into Ingalls Creek.

It is a route with over 7,000 feet of elevation gain and dangerous conditions.

“There’s no trail from there. A lot of it is like third-, fourth-class rock, steep trees, steep heather. Up in that area, there’s still snow about 6,000 feet,” said Jonathon Spitzer with Alpine Ascents.

Morrison said teams are positioned across multiple counties, watching every possible escape route.

“All we need is one mistake and one day to go in our favor, and he’s going to be in our custody. We want him to face justice and hear the voices of Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia, whose lives were senselessly taken by evil,” Morrison said.

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