Coroner Clears Up Misconceptions About Travis Decker's Remains As Questions Remain By Angel Saunders

Travis Decker has been declared dead by the U.S. Marshals Service, but local authorities are not fully backing the federal agency’s claim just yet.

Shortly after the 32-year-old missing father of three was declared dead by the U.S. Marshals Service on Wednesday, Sept. 24, Chelan County Coroner Wayne Harris shared a statement with PEOPLE “in an effort to clear up some confusion and mitigate the numerous phone calls and emails” that his office had received in connection with the case.

“Other agencies can speak about their investigation into Mr. Decker and locating human remains, and can state that based on circumstantial evidence that the remains located are his,” the coroner said. “The Chelan County Coroner’s Office does not have that luxury. We must rely on scientific methods to establish positive identification. Those methods include, DNA, fingerprints, dental or skeletal radiographs, or visual identification.”

Harris’s statement came shortly after a federal prosecutor filed a motion to dismiss the complaint against Decker, and quash the arrest warrant after being advised by the U.S. Marshals Service that Decker is deceased. 

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Decker is accused of killing his daughters — Paityn, 9, Evelyn, 8 and Olivia, 5 — after the siblings vanished on May 30, 2025 during a “planned visitation” with their father, only to be found dead three days later.

He became the focus of a manhunt after the bodies of the girls were found in a remote campground on June 2.

On Sept. 18, the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement to PEOPLE that human remains — which they believed to belong to Decker — were found in a remote wooded area south of Leavenworth, Wash.

In Harris’ statement Wednesday, he reiterated that the remains would be transported “to the state forensic anthropologist for his evaluation” and “for DNA comparison.”

“With the assistance of the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab is going to expedite the testing of a sample of the bones to establish a positive DNA match,” Harris said, noting that updates on the investigation would be provided as they are available. 

“Bear in mind, that the cause and manner of death may never be known,” the coroner concluded.

The Chelan County Sheriff’s Office also told PEOPLE, “We have not received DNA confirmation on the remains found last week.”

Additionally, Sheriff Mike Morrison told ABC News on Wednesday that the charges against Decker would remain until there was confirmation that human bones found were Decker’s.

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In a video published by NBC affiliate King 5 Seattle in June, Whitney Decker, the mother of the deceased girls, gave an emotional speech at her daughters’ memorial service.

“I truly hope that the legacy of the girls’ lives lives on in everyone’s heart forever,” she said, adding, “They were incredible.”