An American military veteran accused of kidnapping and killing his three young daughters near Leavenworth, Washington, is still at large, possibly near the Canadian border in Washington state.
Travis Decker’s connection to Canada focuses on apparent plans to flee to this country in the days leading up to the deaths of his three daughters.
What evidence points to a Canadian connection?
According to
and a U.S. Marshals Service affidavit, Decker conducted several Google searches on May 26, 2025, such as “how does a person move to Canada,” “how to relocate to Canada,” and “jobs Canada.” He also visited the official Canadian government job website, “Find a job – Canada.ca”.
This site provides resources for
finding employment and information about working in Canada
, suggesting he was looking for practical steps to secure work as part of a relocation plan.
While specific details of every site he visited are not public, his search terms and the official nature of the websites accessed align with
typical pre-arrival research steps
. These include understanding immigration pathways and requirements, exploring job markets and employment resources, gathering information about settling in Canada, such as housing and health care.
These searches occurred just days before Decker’s daughters were reported missing and subsequently found dead, indicating an
intent to leave the United States for Canada around the time of the alleged crimes
.
Does the location of the bodies of Decker’s daughters link him to Canada?
The
were discovered near a campground in Chelan County, Washington, relatively close to the Canadian border and approximately 11 miles from the Pacific Crest Trail, a well-known route that leads directly into Canada.
Why would Decker’s military training influence the choice to slip into this country?
Authorities believe Decker may have been planning to use his
military survival and navigation skills
to escape into Canada undetected, possibly via remote terrain, such as the Pacific Crest Trail. His training included land navigation, survival, long-distance movement, and operating in woodland and mountainous terrain — skills that would be
critical for traversing remote areas near the Canadian border
.
Both law enforcement and family members have noted Decker’s
for extended periods, reportedly up to 2.5 months, using his survival knowledge to
remain hidden for an extended period. This has shaped their search strategy, focusing on wilderness areas and trails that require advanced survival abilities.
Are officials searching the Canadian border?
The U.S. Marshals Service and other law enforcement agencies have expanded their search to
areas near the Canadian border
, and they are considering the possibility that Decker may have attempted to cross into Canada to evade prosecution.
Our website is the place for the latest breaking news, exclusive scoops, longreads and provocative commentary. Please bookmark nationalpost.com and sign up for our daily newsletter, Posted, here.