The wife of a missing American high school football coach, who is wanted on multiple child pornography charges, has deleted her Facebook account as the desperate search for her husband enters its eleventh day.
Disappearance Coincides with Serious Charges
Travis Turner, a coach from Virginia, was last seen on November 20 heading into a wooded area near Big Stone Gap with a firearm. His disappearance coincides with police revealing they sought to arrest him on a total of 10 counts related to child pornography and solicitation.
The charges comprise five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor. Police visited Turner's home to speak with him on November 20, but he had already left.
Family's Response and Search Efforts
Turner's wife of 25 years, Leslie Caudill Turner, initially used her Facebook account to provide updates on her missing husband. However, her profile has now been wiped clean, days after the serious allegations against him became public.
The family's attorney, Adrian Collins, confirmed in a statement that Turner entered a "heavily wooded and mountainous area" with a firearm. He emphasised that no warrants had been issued at the time Turner vanished. Leslie promptly reported him missing after he failed to return home, filing a report with Virginia State Police after the required 24-hour period.
"The family has cooperated fully with law-enforcement in their ongoing efforts to locate Travis," Collins stated. Family and friends have conducted their own searches, though efforts have been hampered by weather and official police operations.
Coach's Legacy and Ongoing Fallout
Despite the scandal, Turner's football team, the Union High School Bears, remains undefeated. They won a game on Saturday, where Turner's 23-year-old son, Bailey, was seen on the sidelines. The team is scheduled to play in a state semifinal on December 6.
Turner, who took over at Union in 2011, has twice been named Southwest Virginia Coach of the Year. The school has since removed references to him from its official website.
In a haunting final interview before his disappearance, obtained by the Daily Mail, Turner spoke about his team overcoming adversity. Meanwhile, his wife exclusively told the publication last week that she insists on her husband's innocence.
