Suspected remains of father allegedly involved in daughters' deaths found: police

Police have found the remains of a man wanted in connection with the deaths of his three daughters.

According to reports by ABC News and PEOPLE Magazine, the remains are believed to be of 32-year-old Travis Decker. It was found in a wooded area during a search in the south of Leavenworth in Washington.

"While positive identification has not yet been confirmed, preliminary findings suggest the remains belong to Travis Decker," the Chelan County Sheriff's Office said in a statement.

The authorities added that they are "currently processing the scene" and that a DNA analysis will be conducted.

"We are praying that the remains found are confirmed to be Travis's. We continue to be grateful for law enforcement's efforts in this case and are forever appreciative of the entire world's love, compassion, and support for Whitney," said Arianna Cozart, legal representative for Whitney Decker, Travis' ex-wife and mother of the three girls killed.

The sheriff's office said they are providing the Decker family with support and updates as the investigation proceeds. They also asked for continued privacy and respect for the family.

Decker has been wanted by the police since his three young daughters—Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—were reported missing on May 30. They were found on June 2 with plastic bags over their heads, with wrists bound by zip ties in a remote area of the Rock Island Campground in Chelan County. The autopsy revealed that their cause of death was suffocation.

They were located after the authorities found Travis' pickup truck at the scene, where investigators have collected a "large amount of evidence," including many of his personal items. A $20,000 (P1.1 million) reward was set for his capture.

Cozart said at the time that "there were no red flags" on Travis before the girls disappeared. 

She also noted that Travis, who was a member of the military, has been struggling with mental health issues, including not receiving help through veterans' resources.

"He had some mental health issues and some instability in his life that really led to the restrictions as far as overnight visitation or him taking them out of the area, but other than that, he loved those girls very much, and him and Whitney were able to communicate on a regular basis, not just as co-parents, but as friends," Cozart told ABC News.