Federal and local authorities launched a large-scale manhunt this week for Travis Decker, the Washington father accused of killing his three young daughters earlier this summer, as reported by The New York Post.

Nearly three months after the murders, the FBI and Chelan County Sheriff’s Office announced that about 100 specialists are conducting a detailed grid search near Rock Island Campground in Leavenworth.

Decker, 32, is accused of murdering his daughters — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5 — on June 2. Their bodies were found near the campground with zip ties binding their wrists and necks. Plastic bags were also discovered at the scene.

According to authorities, Decker had picked the girls up for a scheduled visitation on May 30 but never returned them to their mother, Whitney Decker, by the court-ordered deadline.

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The Seattle Times reported that Whitney immediately suspected her daughters were in danger when Travis failed to return them at 8 p.m. that evening.

The sisters were discovered three days later, suffocated to death. Nearby, investigators found Decker’s abandoned truck, which had two bloody handprints smeared on the tailgate. His dog was located alive at the scene and turned over to the Humane Society.

Chelan County Sheriff Michael Morrison told reporters that the search effort is extensive and will continue as long as necessary. “We understand the girls would not want us to give up,” Morrison said.

“We don’t get frustrated, we’re not going to give up, we understand this could take years, and we’ll be here. If it’s not me wearing this uniform, it’ll be another Chelan County Sheriff’s Deputy, another FBI agent, another marshal. This is not going to go away until Travis is located.”

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The current operation, taking place Monday and Tuesday, involves FBI personnel, federal specialists, and local officers trained in grid searches.

Teams are using sniffing dogs and specialized equipment to scour the “thick and dense” terrain, which has vast dirt roads and poor cell service. Roads and trails around Rock Island Campground will remain closed through Wednesday, according to the U.S. Forest Service.

FBI officials acknowledged that natural conditions could have already eroded potential evidence. Peter Orth, supervisory senior resident at the FBI Seattle Field Office, said:

“This case is a priority to the FBI, that is why we are here today. This is a beautiful area in which a heinous crime occurred. We are here to seek justice for Paityn, Evelyn and Olivia. We are here to get answers for their family, friends, and the community, and we are here to hopefully provide some sense of closure.”

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Authorities have not confirmed whether Decker is dead or alive. Investigators emphasized that the operation will ensure the crime scene and surrounding area are thoroughly documented in case Decker remains at large for an extended period.

Officials also stated that the search will not be rushed and could extend beyond the Labor Day weekend if needed.

Decker, a former U.S. Army member with wilderness survival training, has remained missing since the June killings.

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