A respected high school football coach from Virginia has disappeared after becoming the subject of a child pornography investigation, with his family reporting he was last seen walking into a wooded area carrying a gun.
Disappearance and police investigation
Travis Turner, 46, the head coach of Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, has been missing since November 20. The disappearance occurred shortly after police visited his home in Appalachia, a small town with fewer than 2,000 residents, to speak with him about alleged child pornography offences.
According to a statement from family attorney Adrian Collins obtained by WCYB, Turner left his residence to walk into a heavily wooded and mountainous area with a firearm. The statement emphasised that no warrants had been issued at the time of his disappearance.
Charges emerge after disappearance
When Turner failed to return home on the evening of November 20, his wife immediately contacted local law enforcement. She was reportedly told to wait 24 hours before filing a formal missing-person report, which she submitted to the Virginia State Police the following day.
Five days after Turner vanished, authorities announced ten warrants charging him with five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor. Virginia State Police confirmed that additional charges are expected and Turner is now considered a fugitive.
Family response and ongoing search
Turner's wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, has publicly defended her husband, telling The Daily Mail that the allegations are untrue. "He's a good dad and a good husband, and we want him home. That's it," she said. "I don't know anything. I don't know anything. I'm sorry."
Virginia State Police have launched an extensive search across Wise County, deploying drones, K-9 teams, and ground crews. Family and friends have conducted their own searches, though they report efforts have been hampered by weather conditions and the need to avoid disrupting the official investigation.
Turner was last seen wearing a grey sweatshirt, sweatpants, and glasses according to the state's missing-person database. The experienced coach had led the Union High School Bears since 2011 and disappeared as his undefeated team prepared for a playoff game.
State police and the Bureau of Criminal Investigation continue to search for Turner. Anyone with information about his whereabouts is urged to contact the Virginia State Police at (276) 228-3131.
