Kipp Robertson
Local News
Bones found in area where Travis Decker’s daughters were found dead not human, FBI says
Bones found near the Rock Island Campground are confirmed to be non-human, according to Central Washington University's examination.
LEAVENWORTH, Wash. — Bones found in the vicinity of the area where Travis Decker's three daughters were found dead are not human, an examination at Central Washington University confirmed.
Multiple bones were found during a two-day search of the vicinity of the Rock Island Campground Aug. 25-26. Some of those required additional examination, according to a statement from W. Mike Herrington, special agent in charge of the FBI's Seattle field office.
The search team cleared nearly 250 acres on foot around the campground outside of Leavenworth, according to the FBI.
The search, according to the FBI, is one step in a "three-month process by a variety of agencies" to find Decker, signs of his whereabouts or other evidence related to the murder of his daughters.
The bodies of Paityn, Evelyn, and Olivia Decker were last seen May 30 leaving Wenatchee with their father, Travis Decker, who had a scheduled visitation.
The girls' bodies were found near the Rock Island Campground outside of Leavenworth on June 2, after last being seen with their father, Travis Decker. The discovery prompted a manhunt for Decker throughout the Cascades; however, he has evaded authorities for three months.
Tips on possible sightings of Decker came in from throughout the region and beyond, but so far he has not been found.
The search has prompted closures in popular recreation areas, including the Enchantments.
Anyone who sees Decker is urged to call 911 immediately and not to try contacting or approaching him. The U.S. Marshals Service is still offering a reward of up to $20,000 for information leading directly to his arrest.
Local News
Sound Transit facing up to an estimated $30 billion shortfall to complete major ST3 projects
Projects in the central Puget Sound area that will require additional funding include the West Seattle, Ballard, Tacoma Dome, Everett extensions, and more.
SEATTLE — Sound Transit is facing a shortfall of $22 billion to $30 billion for major expansion work in the central Puget Sound area, the agency's board of directors were told Thursday.
That's a hefty increase in the budget shortfall compared to 2021, when a realignment plan was announced that included the agency showing a $6 billion shortfall.
Now, the agency needs billions more to complete its Sound Transit 3 (ST3) light rail projects. Those include extensions to West Seattle, Ballard, the Tacoma Dome, Tacoma Community College, Everett and South Kirkland-Issaquah, according to a presentation to the board of directors. The infill stations at Graham Street and Boeing Access Road are also under the ST3 umbrella of projects.
The shortfall "represents conservative and unmitigated cost estimates before any cost savings opportunities are applied," according to the presentation.
The increase cost estimates stem from cost growth since 2021. The increases, according to the information presented during the board meeting, are mainly due to inflation, complex project delivery, tariffs, labor shortages, supply chain disruptions, increased scope and the purchase or lease of real estate.
An "Enterprise Initiative" was introduced Thursday as the agency looks at ways to reduce costs while trying to deliver on the promises of ST3. A cost savings work plan update will be given in September.
Voters approved ST3 in 2016. The $54 billion measure was expected to cost an average adult $169 in tax increases, according to Sound Transit at the time. ST3 passed in King and Snohomish counties with 58% and 52% of ballots cast for the initiative, respectively. Pierce County rejected the measure with 56% of ballots cast in opposition.
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JBLM soldier sentenced for sexually assaulting college student in barracks
A military judge sentenced Pvt. Deron Gordon to over six years in prison for sexually assaulting a college student.
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. — A Joint Base Lewis-McChord soldier who sexually assaulted a college student in the barracks in 2024 was sentenced to more than six years in prison Friday.
A military judge sentenced Pvt. Deron Gordon, 20, to six years and three months in prison after he pleaded guilty to one specification each of sexual assault, abusive sexual contact and as a principal to indecent recording.
Gordon was previously charged with additional crimes, but those were dismissed as part of the plea agreement.
Gordon is one of four soldiers who were charged in in connection to the sexual assault of a college student, who is now a commissioned Army officer, in October 2024.
When Gordon pleaded guilty, he said that he and another soldier followed the college student into a bedroom after she had been drinking with them. He said she was unstable walking into the room and when they went inside she was on the bed and not responsive.
Gordon said he and the other soldier each proceeded to have sex with her and they filmed each other sexually assaulting her on Snapchat.
As part of his sentencing, Gordon will be reduced in rank to E-1 and dishonorably discharged from the Army.
Gordon will serve the remainder of his sentencing at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Once he is released, Gordon must register as a sex offender.
The three other soldiers who were charged in the incident are at different points in the legal process, and their cases are being treated separately.
If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual assault, you can call the National Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-4673. Additional resources are available on the Washington State Department of Health's website.
KING 5’s Conner Board contributed to this report.
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Charlie Sheen Says He Turned to Alcohol to Help His Stutter
Charlie Sheen
Drinking Helped Me Find My Voice!!!
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Josh Allen Calls Out Bills Fans Who Left Before Comeback Win, ‘Have Some Faith’
Josh Allen
Hey, Bills Mafia
Have Some Faith Next Time!!!
Local News
Teen sentenced in 2023 deadly Metro bus shooting near White Center
In the plea agreement, the teen said he recognized the man from pulling a gun on him on the bus several days prior and was nervous and scared.
WHITE CENTER, Wash. — A teenager was sentenced Friday to over 23 years in prison for shooting and killing a man aboard a King County Metro bus near White Center in 2023.
King County Judge Brian McDonald sentenced Miguel Rivera Dominguez, 19, to 23 years and 4 months in prison, with credit for time served. Prison time will be followed by three years of community custody.
The sentencing comes after Rivera Dominguez pleaded guilty July 3 of first-degree premeditated murder.
On Oct. 3, 2023, Rivera Dominguez fired five shots from “point blank range” at the head and neck of Marcel Da'jon Wagner, 21, who appeared to be asleep aboard the bus near Southwest Roxbury Street and 15th Avenue Southwest, according to charging documents.
In the plea agreement, Rivera Dominguez said he recognized Wagner from having “pulled a gun” on him on the bus a few days prior.
“i was nervous and scared when I saw him on 10/3/23 but he was not threatening me and I was not acting in self-defense,” Rivera Dominguez wrote.
There were 15 other passengers on the bus at the time, but none of them were injured in the shooting.
Rivera Dominguez, who was 17 at the time of the shooting, fled after the incident and remained at large for a month before he turned himself in.
The shooting prompted concerns about safety aboard King County Metro buses. After the shooting, Metro said it would add security to the H Line, expanding transit security officers who patrol buses and transit centers.
Local News
Let’s Go Washington launches initiative campaign on trans youth sports, parental rights
Let's Go Washington, the backers of the 2024 initiatives, is looking for signatures again.
OLYMPIA, Wash. — Let's Go Washington is back in the initiative game.
The organization, founded by Brian Heywood, sponsored several initiatives in 2024 changing state law.
Heywood announced Monday signatures are being gathered to submit two initiatives to the 2026 state Legislature or potentially voters. The initiatives relate to parental rights and trans youth athletes.
Heywood's organization achieved significant victories last year when voters supported initiatives restricting natural gas use and overturning state laws limiting police pursuits. The state Legislature also passed Let's Go Washington-backed measures banning income taxes and guaranteeing parental rights to access school records. The success came after Heywood invested more than $5 million of his own money into seven initiatives.
"Someone has to stand up and fight back. And what I think I've done is given the voice. I've given voice to 1.2 million people who signed at least one of our initiatives," Heywood said.
However, the organization faced a setback earlier this year when Gov. Bob Ferguson signed legislation overhauling the "parents bill of rights" initiative.
"It stripped all the parts about parental notification or parental access to information," Heywood said.
In response, Let's Go Washington is now gathering signatures for two new campaigns. The first seeks to overturn Ferguson's recent law, restoring their original parental rights initiative. The second would require physicians to assign genders to youth athletes during physicals, prohibiting those considered males from competing against females.
"Allowing biological males to compete in girls sports is a blatant, a flagrant violation of Title IX, I would argue, and also extremely unfair to girls who've worked really hard to get in a position to be top athletes," Heywood said.
Despite failing to pass initiatives targeting the state's climate law, long-term care savings program, and capital gains tax in 2024, Heywood remains optimistic about his organization's impact.
"Four out of seven, I'm pretty, pretty happy with what we did, and we're not done," he said.
If the organization can collect enough signatures by the end of the year, the issues would be submitted to the state Legislature. Lawmakers could either pass the initiatives or let voters decide in November 2026.