Football Coach Wanted on Child Pornography Charges Was Last Seen Walking into Woods with Gun — as $5,000 Reward Offered
Travis Turner went missing on Nov. 20 before authorities officially charged him with child pornography charges
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Travis Turner.Credit : WJHL/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
The family of a missing football coach wanted on child sex abuse material charges says they last saw him entering the woods with a firearm
Travis Turner, 46, was last seen on Nov. 20
Turner, who was the head coach of the undefeated Union High School football team, is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor
The family of a missing Virginia high school football coach wanted on child pornography charges says they last saw him walking into the woods with a gun more than a week ago.
Travis Turner, the coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Va., was last seen on Nov. 20, according to a Virginia State Police bulletin. Additionally, ABC News reported on Monday that Turner’s family said through its attorney that the 46-year-old coach’s “last known contact” with his family was “on or about Thursday, Nov. 20, after he left his residence to walk in the woods with a firearm.”
“He is believed to have entered a heavily wooded and mountainous area,” the family’s attorney Adrian Collins added in his statement. According to Collins, a warrant had not yet been issued for Turner’s arrest at the time of his disappearance. The family’s attorney said Turner’s wife contacted police later that night to report that her husband had not returned home.
“She was advised that a missing-person report could not be taken until at least 24 hours had passed,” the attorney’s statement continued. “The following day, she filed a missing-person report with the Virginia State Police. The family has cooperated fully with law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to locate Travis.”
PEOPLE has reached out to Collins for more information but did not immediately hear back on Tuesday afternoon.
Last week, PEOPLE reported that Virginia State Police said it had obtained 10 warrants for Turner, including for five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor.
According to initial reports from ABC News, WCYB and WJHL, Turner has since been considered a fugitive as police continue to search for the coach.
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Travis Turner.Virginia State Police
Turner, who lives in Appalachia, Va., went missing just two days before his undefeated high school football team was set to appear in the state playoffs. Since then, Union has won its first three games of the playoffs and is now set to appear in the state semifinals this Saturday, Dec. 6 in a game against Glenvar High School with a trip to the state championship on the line.
Virginia State Police said in a statement last week that its investigation into Turner’s disappearance has “utilized a number of assets, including search and rescue teams, drones and K9s, to assist in the search.”
“VSP’s main priority is locating Turner safely,” state police said.
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Travis Turner.Virginia State Police
Wise County Schools issued a statement following the news of Turner’s disappearance, according to WJHL, confirming that “a staff member” who works at the school has since been placed “on administrative leave” but did not mention the coach by name.
“Wise County Public Schools is aware that law enforcement has filed charges against a staff member who has been on administrative leave,” the school’s statement said, according to WJHL. “The individual remains on leave and is not permitted on school property or to have contact with students. The division will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as this process moves forward. Because this is an active legal matter involving personnel, the division cannot comment further.”
State police said Turner is over 6 feet tall and weighs about 260 lbs. He has brown hair and brown eyes, and was last seen in a gray sweatshirt, sweatpants and glasses.
According to ABC, Virginia officials have since offered a $5,000 reward for information leading to Turner’s arrest.
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