Idaho Search for Fugitive Father Ends with Finding a Doppelgänger Hiker

Authorities in Idaho's Sawtooth National Forest have halted their investigation after realizing it was a case of mistaken identity.

The U.S. Marshals Service Greater Idaho Fugitive Task Force initiated the search last Saturday when a family reported sighting a man they believed was the fugitive father, linked to the tragic deaths of his three young daughters in Washington.

Travis Decker has been evading capture since June 2, after a Washington sheriff's officer discovered his vehicle and the bodies of his daughters—Paityn, aged 9, Evelyn, 8, and Olivia, 5—near Leavenworth, Washington. This happened after he failed to return them to their mother in Wenatchee after a scheduled visit.

The search began when a family at a Bear Creek campsite noticed a man resembling Decker in height, build, hair, and tattoos. Following their report, more tips came in, leading federal, state, and local law enforcement to coordinate with the Marshals Service in a thorough search.

The person in question was located on Wednesday afternoon, according to Supervisory Deputy Michael Leigh of the U.S. Marshals Service. It was confirmed after interviewing him that he had merely been hiking in the Bear Creek area over the weekend and was not Decker.

Back in Washington, authorities had noted on June 10 that Decker, an ex-soldier, was last seen near an isolated alpine lake in the Cascade Range, a popular spot for backpackers. Although some hikers noted a lone traveler who seemed ill-prepared for the terrain, Decker remains at large.

"Given the challenging and remote nature of the area, and the conditions observed," shared Inspector Chris Whitsett, "it is evident that prolonged exposure increases risk, and whether or not it's his intent, the probability grows that he could succumb to the elements."

Recently released images might depict Decker after weeks of eluding capture. Photos and other evidence taken before he vanished show him with a beard, long dark hair in a ponytail, and marked with tattoos. His height is 5-foot-8, and he weighs approximately 190 pounds.

A reward of up to $20,000 is available from the Marshals Service for information that could lead to Decker's apprehension.