Mistaken Identity Sparks False Manhunt for Idaho Man

An Idaho man with a beard was recently mistaken for a suspected killer during a remote hiking trip, leading to a large-scale interstate search over 500 miles from the original crime scene.

The U.S. Marshals had announced that they were pursuing a person believed to be Travis Decker, accused of murdering his three young daughters. The search centered in Idaho’s Sawtooth National Forest after tips came in over the July Fourth weekend, suggesting Decker was in the area.

However, it was later revealed that the individual law enforcement was hunting was not Decker but a lookalike—an ordinary man named Nick who had no connection to the case. Nick, who only discovered the mix-up after returning home, explained he was interrogated for around 30 minutes. Authorities described details such as his hairstyle, beard, clothing, and accessories, which led them to mistake him for the suspect.

Nick remarked, “They described me like, the hair, the beard, the hat, the glasses, my tattoo, earrings, my shirt. Shorts were a different color, my shoes, the backpack, the location. I said, ‘Oh my God, they think I’m that guy’.”

Shortly after, authorities announced they had ceased their search in the Idaho wilderness. Nick expressed disbelief, saying, “In my opinion, I don’t look like that guy. They saw me from a distance.”

Despite the false alarm, Nick appreciated that the tips contributed to the ongoing search. “Be careful because this has been a little tumultuous for me and those around me. It’s been disruptive at work, but I would encourage people to report suspicions,” he said.

Authorities have been searching for Decker since June 2, when his three daughters—Paityn (9), Evelyn (8), and Olivia (5)—were found murdered at a campground in Washington. Despite numerous false sightings, Decker has not been seen since he disappeared. He has a history of mental health issues and military training in wilderness survival, which complicates the effort to locate him.