(NewsNation) — The cause of death for the three Washington sisters who were found dead after a visit with their father, Travis Decker, has been revealed as federal investigators take over the search for him.
According to the Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, an autopsy on the three girls was completed by the medical examiner and determined they died by suffocation and that the manner of death was a homicide.
The girls were found dead near their father’s vehicle at a campground near Wenatchee, Washington. The girls’ mother notified police that they were missing after Decker allegedly failed to bring them back after the planned visit.
In their search, investigators found Decker’s personal items and his dog, who was later turned over to the Humane Society for care. Blood samples taken from the scene were found to belong to an adult male, and another sample was determined not to be human blood. A DNA analysis is underway.
The search for Decker, who is accused of killing his daughters, is still ongoing.