Travis Decker, a 32-year-old father accused of murdering his three daughters, has been declared dead by the U.S. Marshals Service. This announcement was made in a court filing aimed at dismissing the arrest warrant for Decker. The document states, "The United States Marshals Service has advised the Defendant TRAVIS CALEB DECKER is deceased."

Decker was wanted on three counts of first-degree murder and three counts of first-degree kidnapping. His daughters—Paityn, 9; Evelyn, 8; and Olivia, 5—were last seen on May 30 during a scheduled visitation. They were found dead near the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County, Washington, three days later.

The declaration of Decker's death follows the discovery of human remains in a remote area near Leavenworth, Washington, on September 18. While preliminary findings suggest the remains belong to Decker, officials are still awaiting DNA confirmation. Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison stated, "We are not dropping our charges on Decker and will wait until DNA confirms the remains found belong to the father."

The remains were located after a drone search identified an anomaly, which turned out to be clothing consistent with what Decker was wearing at the time of the alleged crimes. Other personal items, including a bracelet and chewing tobacco, were also found at the scene. Morrison noted that all indications suggest Decker died in that location some time ago.

Arianna Cozart, the attorney for Decker's ex-wife, Whitney, expressed hope for confirmation of the remains, stating, "We continue to be grateful for law enforcement’s efforts in this case and are forever appreciative of the entire world’s love, compassion, and support for Whitney."

The investigation into the deaths of Decker's daughters revealed that they were suffocated, with plastic bags placed over their heads and their wrists zip-tied. An autopsy confirmed the cause of death as homicide.

Decker had been on the run since the girls' disappearance, prompting a multi-agency manhunt that included local, state, and federal law enforcement. His truck was found at the campground, but he was not located during extensive searches of the surrounding areas.

Authorities had previously offered a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading to Decker's capture. The investigation remains ongoing as officials await the final DNA results to confirm the identity of the remains.