FBI closes Leavenworth, WA trails, campgrounds where Travis Decker search began
Leavenworth area campsites closed this weekend near Travis Decker slayings
Local law enforcement officials closed some campsites near Leavenworth this weekend as they continue an on-going investigation in the area.
CHELAN COUNTY, Wash. - Several campgrounds, roads and hiking trails near Leavenworth will be closed starting Sunday as federal investigators continue work in the area connected to the search for Travis Decker, the man accused of killing his three young daughters in May.
Keep reading to learn which roads and campgrounds will be closed.
FBI confirms closures tied to investigation
In an email to FOX 13 Seattle, the FBI confirmed it requested the closures, saying: "Thank you for contacting us. I can confirm that FBI Seattle has requested road closures in the area. We will have more information for you on Monday. No additional information is available at this time."
The closures cover the Rock Island Campground, where authorities found Decker’s truck and the bodies of his three daughters.
The FBI ordered a temporary closure of Rock Island Campground and nearby trails in Leavenworth from Aug. 24–27 for an investigation. The area was previously searched in the manhunt for missing suspect Travis Decker. (WA DOL / USFS)
US Forest Service issues closure order
According to the U.S. Forest Service, the order is in place "to provide for public health and safety" while the FBI conducts its investigation.
The closure affects multiple roads, trails and campgrounds along Icicle Creek.
This map shows the area that is closing for an FBI investigation. (USFS)
The following areas are closed from 6 a.m. Sunday, August 24, to 6 a.m. Wednesday, August 27:
Campgrounds closed
- Rock Island Campground
- Blackpine Horse Campground
- Chatter Creek Campground
Roads closed
- FSR 7600600
- FSR 7600550
- FSR 7600415 and 7600415A
- FSR 7609000
- FSR 7609110
- FSR 7600110
- FSR 7600615, 7600616, 7600915, 7600000, 7609400, 7600810
Trailheads closed
- Jack Pine Trail 1558
- Icicle Gorge Trail 1596
- Icicle Gorge Upper Loop 1596.1
- Icicle Gorge Upper Loop Tie 1596.2
The Ida Creek Campground will remain open, with access allowed up to that point along FSR 7600000.
For the full closure order and map, visit the U.S. Forest Service's website.
Authorities continue search for Decker
The closure comes as law enforcement continues to search for 36-year-old Travis Decker, who is accused of killing his daughters at Rock Island Campground.
As the search approaches three months, Decker's whereabouts remain unknown.
The Chelan County Sheriff's Office said in a press release Monday that they have no evidence to suggest if he is "either alive or deceased." The U.S. Marshals Service is leading the manhunt, with support from local and federal agencies.
"He could be international at this point. He could be national, he could be here locally," Sheriff Morrison said. "We haven't given up. Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia are still very much in our minds."
Public memorial held for Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker
A community memorial was held in Wenatchee for Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia, who investigators believe were killed by their father, Travis Decker, who remains at large. Hundreds gathered, dressed in the girls' favorite colors, to hear tributes from family, including their mother, and honor their lives with songs, prayers, and a candlelight vigil.
Morrison also noted that Decker could still be in the woods, but added, "we think most likely – if that were the case – he'd probably be deceased."
The FBI said it will release additional details Monday.
New forensic evidence released in search for Travis Decker
The closure comes shortly after the Chelan County Sheriff's Office released new details about the ongoing investigation. The medical examiner had previously determined the girls died by suffocation and that their deaths were a homicide.
According to a press release from the sheriff's office, investigators found multiple plastic bags over the girls' heads and cable ties nearby. Lab results from the Washington State Crime Lab confirmed Decker's DNA was on all the bags and cable ties, along with the victims' DNA.
No unknown DNA profiles were detected on the items, indicating that authorities believe no one else was involved in the crime.
Authorities ask for public's help
Anyone who sees Decker or has information on his whereabouts is urged not to approach him and instead call 911 immediately.
Tips can also be submitted to the U.S. Marshals Service Communications Center at 1-800-336-0102 or online.
Search for Travis Decker continues more than three months after murders
Law enforcement agencies, led by U.S. Marshals, are continuing their three-month search for Travis Decker, the Washington father accused of killing his three daughters and leaving their bodies at a Wenatchee-area campground.
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The Source: Information in this story came from FBI Seattle and the US Forest Service.