A community in Virginia is grappling with shock and disbelief as the search continues for a local high school football coach who has vanished after being accused of serious child sexual offences.
Community in Shock Over Serious Allegations
Travis Turner, the 46-year-old head football coach at Virginia’s Union High School, is now a wanted man. Police have issued a warrant for his arrest on five counts of possession of child pornography and a further five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor. Authorities have indicated that additional charges are pending.
The situation unfolded last Thursday when special agents arrived at Turner's home to interview him as part of an ongoing investigation. He was last seen entering the woods near his property and has not been seen since. The police officially announced the charges against him on Tuesday.
These allegations have sent ripples of horror through the small, tight-knit town of Big Stone Gap, which has an estimated population of just over 5,000 people.
A Respected Figure Now a Fugitive
Friends and former pupils have expressed their profound shock, having viewed Turner as a pillar of the community. Katherine Blair, a high school friend of the coach, summed up the community's reaction. 'It was a shock to us,' she told the New York Times. 'All the football players looked up to him. He was like a father figure to them.'
She added that she considered Turner, a married father of three, to be 'a good guy' and that the turn of events was baffling. 'When he went from missing to a fugitive, we were like, ‘What?’'
Bronson Singh, a former pupil, confirmed that the scandal is the primary topic of conversation in the town, stating, 'It’s just about the only thing anyone’s talking about right now.'
A Troubling Pattern at the School
In a deeply troubling twist, it has emerged that Turner is not the first employee associated with the school to face such serious accusations. This revelation has compounded the community's distress.
Timothy Lee Meador, a former teacher at the same school in Big Stone Gap, was arrested and charged two years ago. According to reports from KATV and WYMT, his charges included one count of child solicitation and two counts of indecent liberties. The Commonwealth's Attorney confirmed he later pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child and was sentenced to one year and three months in prison. Meador, now 30, is banned from the school and remains listed on the Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry.
Furthermore, a third employee within the wider Wise County School System was also arrested earlier this year. Tyler Jay Tibbs, 28, who worked at Coeburn Middle School—a short 25-minute drive from Union High School—was arrested in August. He faces three counts of carnal knowledge and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial relationship. He was later bonded out of Duffield Regional Jail on a $25,000 bond, and the investigation into his case is believed to be ongoing.
Amidst the turmoil, Turner's undefeated football team, the Bears, with a 12-0 record, continues to play. They won their most recent game following his disappearance and are scheduled for another home game this Saturday.
