Following the disappearance of Union High School football coach Travis Turner, Virginia state police have launched a manhunt, declaring him a fugitive after the issuance of 10 child pornography warrants. Authorities have deployed drones, search teams, and K9 units to locate Turner, who was first reported missing on November 21. Turner, 46, was reportedly at his home in Appalachia, Virginia, when law enforcement arrived, but he was not there. The police stated that the search is ongoing across multiple jurisdictions, with the main priority being to locate him safely.
Turner’s wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, has expressed the family’s confusion and anguish, stating that the allegations are not true and that her husband is a good father and husband. She has called for the community to keep praying that he comes home, emphasizing the family’s need for him to be there. The case has left the rural community in shock, with many questioning the intersection of sports and law enforcement.
The case has also raised questions about the community’s response to such allegations against a local figure. The Union High School team, which was undefeated during the season, has faced a setback following the coach’s disappearance, as the team prepares to face a defending state champion in the next week’s playoff match. The community’s concern is heightened by the fact that the coach is part of a long-established football family, with his late father, Tom Turner, having led teams to five state championships during his 26-year coaching career before his death in 2006.
Authorities are urging anyone with information about Turner’s whereabouts to contact Virginia State Police Division 4 at (276) 484-9483 or email [email protected]. Tips can be made anonymously. A recently surfaced video from the Union Sports Network’s Instagram feed is believed to show Turner’s final public interview before his disappearance, conducted moments after Union’s 40-7 victory over Lehigh on November 15. The video highlights his pride in his players’ resilience and senior leadership, as they prepared for the upcoming playoff match against Graham High School.
The situation has also brought attention to the handling of internal allegations within the school district. Wise County Public Schools confirmed that a staff member had been placed on administrative leave pending review of an external allegation but did not specify whether it involved Turner. Superintendent Dr. Mike Goforth stated that this is standard procedure and not a determination of wrongdoing. The district has since acknowledged that law enforcement has filed charges against the employee on leave, and he is currently not allowed on school property or to have contact with students.
Meanwhile, the community and the school district have continued to express their support and concern for Travis Turner’s whereabouts, highlighting the ongoing impact of this case on the local community and the broader implications of such allegations on individuals in positions of public trust.