Missing high school coach Travis Turner left home without essential items as family pleads for him to face child porn allegations

Virginia high school football coach Travis Turner vanished without his essential items before being pursued on child pornography charges — as his family released a distressing message begging him to face the allegations.

Turner left his car, keys, contact lenses and glasses and medication that he takes daily at his Appalachia home before he was last seen walking into the woods on Nov. 20, the family’s attorney, Adrian Collins, said in a statement to WCYB on Wednesday.

“Travis’ wallet, license, cash, and all its contents were left in the home. Travis is prescribed certain daily medications which he needs, those were left in the home,” Collins said.

High school football coach Travis Turner left his home without his essential items, including his daily medication, before going missing.
High school football coach Travis Turner left his home without his essential items, including his daily medication, before going missing.Leslie Caudill Turner / Facebook
Collins previously said that Turner, the widely-celebrated head coach of Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Va., fled into the heavily wooded area armed with a firearm.

“This was something he had done multiple times throughout the years,” Collins said of his walks into the woods.

Turner’s wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, contacted law enforcement when her husband never returned and then filed a missing person report the next day.

Collins said that the football coach was not a fugitive at the time he went missing since police had not yet charged him with any crime until days after he vanished.

He also shot down the idea that Caudill Turner played a role in Turner’s disappearance.

“His wife was not helping him escape, she was asking for help to find him,” Collins said.

Turner's family released a distressing message begging him to “come home."
Turner’s family released a distressing message begging him to “come home.”Facebook/Leslie Turner
The family’s attorney revealed his wife and kids are “distressed” by his disappearance and are praying for his safe return.

“Leslie pleads for you to come home and face the allegations by defending yourself in a court of law. Don’t leave your family to fight this battle without you,” Collins said.

“They love and miss you. They want you to know they are your support.”

Turner’s disappearance was first cast as a simple missing person’s case before state police announced that the 46-year-old married father is wanted for five counts of child pornography and another five of using a computer to solicit a minor.

“VSP is still searching for Turner with the assistance of the FBI and US Marshals Service,” Virginia State Police said.

Turner's wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, contacted law enforcement when her husband never returned and then filed a missing person report the next day.
Turner’s wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, contacted law enforcement when her husband never returned and then filed a missing person report the next day.Facebook/Leslie Turner
As their manhunt continues, the US Marshals have offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to his arrest.

Leslie Caudill Turner, who has been married to Turner for 25 years, scrubbed her social media presence in the wake of the arrest warrant for her husband.

Authorities have warned he may be armed and urged caution before approaching him.

After the charges became public, Union High School removed him from its staff directory.

Before his disappearance, the head coach was leading the school’s football team to an undefeated season.

The team has won two playoff games since he vanished, and is now heading to the state semi-finals following a regional championship win on Saturday.