Decker remains positively identified; cause of death not yet known

Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison at press conference outside of the Chelan County Courthouse, Sept. 25.

It’s confirmed. The manhunt is over for Wenatchee triple murderer Travis Decker. Decker’s remains, found on a mountainside south of Leavenworth a week ago have been positively identified through DNA.

The Washington State Patrol Crime Lab reporting the results of DNA analysis to Chelan County Sheriff Mike Morrison, who had reported that parts of Decker’s skeleton and clothing were found within a mile of the crime scene, where bodies of his three young daughters were located in late May. Decker has picked up the girls for a scheduled parental visitation.

“We have it appears the potential of him going directly up Grindstone Mountain shortly after the event, or within that day,” Sheriff Morrison revealed Thursday afternoon at a press conference in Wenatchee. “We’ll look at the time frame once we hear back from the (Chelan County) Coroner’s Office and hopefully we can get a clearer picture of what was the cause of death.”

“Personally, that I see it as a win for our community, that we can close this,” the Sheriff added. “It has been a very dark chapter. You’re looking at one of the largest manhunts in Chelan county history, one of the most horrific crimes that we’ve scene in Chelan County and we’re glad to put it behind us. That threat to our community is no longer a threat.”