Authorities struggle to find survivalist father as search intensifies: Emotions running high

The search for the survivalist father suspected of murdering his three daughters and then vanishing into the remote Washington wilderness has surpassed a month, leaving local authorities frustrated as leads dwindle.

Expressing his ongoing anger, Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputy Mike McLeod shared with USA Today the challenges faced in locating 33-year-old Travis Decker. “He remains at large,” voiced McLeod.

Decker, a former U.S. Army member with survival skills, is sought for the alleged murder of his three daughters – 9-year-old Paityn, 5-year-old Olivia, and 8-year-old Evelyn. Their mother, Whitney Decker, reported the girls missing on May 30 when they failed to return from a court-ordered visitation with their father.

The U.S. Marshals Service remains the lead agency in the four-week-long hunt, working alongside SWAT teams and local law enforcement. 

“You have to be responsible with your financial resources,” Morrison said. “Which means you have to ask whether you are tracking active leads. Typically, people who disappear want to live in more populated areas where they have access to supplies.”

At the time of the girls’ deaths, Decker was homeless, living between motels and campground sites while suffering from mental health issues, according to court documents. He is charged with three counts of aggravated first-degree murder and kidnapping. 

The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. 

Decker is described as a white man standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall, and weighing approximately 190 pounds. Authorities warn that he is considered armed and dangerous but insist they have no reason to believe Decker is a threat to public safety.

The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a $20,000 reward for any information leading to Decker’s arrest.