A search for a father suspected of killing his three daughters has uncovered a set of bones.
Former soldier Travis Decker, 33, has been wanted by the FBI since June 2, three days after he failed to return the girls to their mother Whitney’s home.
The bodies of his three children, Paityn, nine, Evelyn, eight and Olivia, five were found near to Decker’s white pick-up truck at a campground outside Leavenworth, Washington.
An autopsy found that the girls died of asphyxiation.
Investigations are now underway to determine the identity of the bones found at the Rock Island Campground, the Mirror reported.
Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison said: ‘The bones were found during the grid search by one of the 100 personnel … it was inconclusive at the time if they were animal or human, so it was sent off to Central Washington University in their anthropology department to do a confirmation.’
Morrison’s deputy Mike Leod said he was ‘angry’ that Decker had not been found.
‘Oddly enough there wasn’t anyone at any other campsites, no people. No vehicles. Normally it’s super busy’, he said.
Members of the public have been warned not to approach Decker, who served for three years in the Washington National Guard after being in the army.
However the Kittita County Sheriff’s Office said there was ‘no evidence’ to suggest that Decker is still alive or in the area.
Hours before the girls’ bodies were found, their mother told local TV channels: ‘I am concerned about the safety and wellbeing of my girls and their dad. This is an unimaginable situation.’
She added that Decker could be ‘impulsive’ and had struggled with his mental health.
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