Travis Turner’s family reveals chilling details about former football coach’s disappearance as wife denies helping him escape

The family of missing high school football coach Travis Turner has revealed grim new details about his disappearance.

Turner, the former head coach of Union High School’s football team in rural Virginia, vanished into the woods with a gun in hand on November 20, as officers with the Virginia State Police arrived at his house to question him.

Days later, Turner was charged on 10 counts of child pornography and solicitation of a minor.

Turner’s family attorney has now revealed how the 46-year-old left his car, keys, contact lens supplies, glasses, prescription daily medication and wallet – with his license and all of his cash inside – at the house at the time of his disappearance.

‘It is not like Travis to disappear or stay away from home,’ lawyer Adrian Collins told the Daily Mail as he explained why Turner’s wife, Leslie, grew concerned and reported him missing to the Virginia State Police.

He added that Leslie ‘was not helping him escape’ and was simply ‘asking for help to find him.’

‘Criminal charges were not obtained against Travis until days after he failed to return home,’ the lawyer noted. ‘He was not a fugitive wanted by law enforcement at the time he went missing.’

Collins also said that the Turner family is continuing to cooperate with law enforcement in its investigation – and have even consented to having their home and properties searched multiple times.

Travis Turner, the former head coach of Union High School's football team in rural Virginia, vanished into the woods on November 20 - just days after he was accused of possessing child pornography
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Travis Turner, the former head coach of Union High School’s football team in rural Virginia, vanished into the woods on November 20 – just days after he was accused of possessing child pornography

His wife, Leslie, reported him missing after finding that he left necessities at home
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His wife, Leslie, reported him missing after finding that he left necessities at home

‘While the family’s last contact with Travis causes them to have great concern for his well-being, they cling to the hope he will be found and afforded the opportunity to defend himself in a court of law,’ the lawyer said.

Collins concluded by addressing Turner himself, telling the fugitive, ‘your wife and children are in distress.’

‘Leslie pleads for you to come home and face the allegations by defending yourself in a court of law,’ the lawyer said.

‘Don’t leave your family to fight this battle without you.’

‘They love you and miss you,’ he added. ‘They want you to know they are your support.’

Leslie, who has been married to Turner for 25 years, has previously told the Daily Mail that the accusations against her husband are untrue.

The 46-year-old paralegal had earlier used her Facebook to share updates about the search for her husband, but suddenly deleted her profile days later as the search efforts continued.

Meanwhile, the US Marshals has announced it is offering up to $5,000 for any information leading to Turner’s arrest as it, the Virginia State Police and FBI scour the area for any signs of the father-of-three.

Officers have been seen utilizing search and rescue teams, drones and even K9 units to track down Turner after they were unable to locate him following his disappearance.

He remains listed as a missing person on the Virginia State Police website.

Turner is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor
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Turner is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor

Leslie, who has been married to Turner for 25 years, has previously told the Daily Mail that the accusations against her husband are untrue
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Leslie, who has been married to Turner for 25 years, has previously told the Daily Mail that the accusations against her husband are untrue

The family's attorney said in a statement that they stand behind the father-of-three
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The family’s attorney said in a statement that they stand behind the father-of-three

Since taking over at Union in 2011, Turner has twice been honored as Southwest Virginia Coach of the Year as his Bears established themselves as a regional power.

But law enforcement and the Wise School District have remained tight lipped about the probe into Turner, with sources telling the Daily Mail that they have been told not to leak any details about the case.

A spokesman for Wise County Public Schools, which oversees Union High, said the district is aware of the charges and, without naming Turner, declined further comment.

‘The individual remains on leave and is not permitted on school property or to have contact with students,’ read a statement.

But in the days after that statement, Union High School removed Turner’s profile from their website.

Law enforcement and the Wise School District have remained tight lipped about the probe into Turner
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Law enforcement and the Wise School District have remained tight lipped about the probe into Turner

Currently, the only ‘Turner’ listed as a member of staff is Travis’ son, Bailey, who continued his coaching duties when the Union High School Bears won a state playoff game over the weekend.

He mostly kept to himself and fought back tears as the team maintained their composure to beat Ridgeview High School.

Bailey, a former Bears quarterback who graduated from the school in 2019, told Daily Mail that the win was ‘bittersweet’ for him and the family ‘appreciated the support’ they had been getting, but declined to comment further on his father’s disappearance.

Union is now set to face Glenvar in a Class 2 state semifinal Saturday, December 6. The state championship game is set for Saturday, December 13.