CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. — Human remains believed to belong to Travis Decker were discovered in a remote wooded area south of Leavenworth, according to the Chelan County Sheriff's Office. The remains were found during a search involving multiple law enforcement agencies this week.

"While positive identification has not yet been confirmed, preliminary findings suggest the remains belong to Travis Decker," the sheriff's office stated. The scene is currently being processed with assistance from the Washington State Patrol's crime scene response team. DNA analysis will follow once the processing is complete.

Travis Decker, 32, was wanted on charges of first-degree murder and kidnapping in connection with the deaths of his three daughters: 9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia. The girls were reported missing on May 30 after they failed to return home from a scheduled visit with their father. Their bodies were discovered near the Rock Island Campground, approximately 17 miles from Leavenworth, just days later.

The Chelan County medical examiner determined that the girls died from suffocation. Their bodies were found with plastic bags over their heads and evidence of zip ties on their wrists, according to court documents. Decker was not present at the scene when authorities arrived.

The search for Decker began after the Wenatchee Police Department responded to a civil complaint from the girls' mother on the night of May 30. An Endangered Missing Person Alert was issued the following day. Law enforcement located Decker's unoccupied truck near the campground on June 2, which led to the discovery of the children's bodies nearby.

Authorities conducted an extensive search for Decker, utilizing resources from various agencies, including the U.S. Marshals Service and the FBI. The search covered hundreds of square miles of remote terrain. Investigators noted that Decker had military training and was skilled in wilderness survival, which complicated the search efforts.

As the investigation continues, the Chelan County Sheriff's Office is in contact with the Decker family to provide updates and support. Further information regarding the identification of the remains and the ongoing investigation will be released as it becomes available.