Travis Decker confirmed dead after DNA results show human remains belong to fugitive
In a statement on Thursday, Chelan District officials, who believed that he had drowned and abandoned his three young daughters in a camp in his wild nature, died.
Chelan County Sharif Michael Morrison, a news conference in the afternoon of Thursday, with clothes that appear as wearing in the surveillance images before the disappearance of the positive DNA results that determine the human residues discovered last week.
Morrison said, iz We can finally approach this dark part of the Chelan district, ”Morrison said. “He is dead, our DNA results confirm this, and this will approach our case.”
Only the epic ended for months by a family tragedy that touches an entire community.
How did the residues found
A drone flying in the region On September 18 Washington detected an unusual material on a mountain in Cascades. With the Şerif office of the Chelan district, the detectives passed a helicopter and discovered the remains and items between evidence.
According to Morrison, an operational psychologist who helped the staff in a previous search pointed out under the direction of Grindstone Mountain, an interested area.
Morris The insights and guidance took us to an important area to search for we had finally found Mr. Decker, Mor said Morrison.
Morrison did not provide detailed information about the status of the remains, and the local forensic medicine task is working to determine whether they can identify a reason and death time for Decker.
Travis Decker is seen in an undated photo published by the Chelan County Sheriff Office. – Chelan County Sheriff Office
“You are looking at one of the biggest human prey in the history of Chelan County, one of the most terrible crimes we have seen in Chelan County, and we are pleased to put it behind us, Mor said Morrison.
A monthly search ends
The search for Decker covered three districts, directed the authorities to Canada and Mexico, and included several local and federal agencies to have only residues. I found less than a mile Where the girls’ bodies were discovered.
Decker was accused of killing three daughters, 5 -year -old Olivia, 8 -year -old Evelyn and 9 -year -old Paityn, not shortly after taking them from their mothers. custody visit On May 30th.
The drones were used in a rural area outside the rural areas outside the city of Leavenworth, a rapid water team, cadaver dogs, and even Gopros, Cascade Mountain Range. wild beauty and treacherous land.
The search was complex because Decker made a three -day start.
Decker’s truck was abandoned in the rock Island campground area On June 2. According to a police declaration, the bodies of his daughters were about 100 meters away from a small set.
The authorities also found a bloody fingerprint in the truck’s baggage gate and in Decker’s dog.
The sheriff hoped more people Flock to the popular area It will help in search of the environment where girls are located for the intense summer season, but the decker trail was not found all season.
Whitney Decker, the mother of the girls, said the inspectors were diagnosed with personality disorder at the border and that they were homeless when they disappeared.
Before the ruins are identified as Decker’s, Whitney Decker’s lawyer Arianna Cozart, ABC News“We pray for confirming that the ruins found are Travis. In this case, we continue to be grateful for the efforts of the law enforcement officers and we will appreciate the love, compassion and support of the whole world forever.”
CNN reached Cozart’s office to comment on Thursday.
A reason may never be known
Morrison, a reason behind the crime may never be known, but to know that someone will not bring back the victims.
Şerif, “Based on the evidence we have, the murder committed. Inevitable, unable to explain. And of course we would like to hear the process of thought… But I do not think that nothing he said would be right,” he said.
“As a result, our community will now be our bright future of three young girls. They are not here,” he added.
In addition to thanking the agencies involved in a comprehensive search for Decker, Morrison’s latest words at the news conference were for Whitney Decker.
“Whitney: I hope you definitely know that we don’t give up, and Paityn, Evelyn, Olivia will live their memories forever.”
This story has been updated with additional information.
Ryan Young of CNN, Holly Yan, Alaa Elassar and Zoe Sottil contributed to this report.
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