Cops: Missing Coach Is Wanted on Child Porn Charges

UPDATE Nov 25, 2025 11:19 AM CST

A high school football coach in Virginia who vanished as his undefeated team made its way into the state playoffs is now officially a man on the run. According to a statement by Virginia State Police rep Robin Lawson cited by NBC News, 46-year-old Travis Turner is wanted "on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor," with other charges still pending. Lawson adds that Turner is "now considered a fugitive." The coach's wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, last week put up a Facebook post asking for prayers for her spouse, per Us Weekly. "Travis is missing, & that's all we know," she wrote on Friday night. "We love him & need him here with us." That post has since been deleted.

Nov 24, 2025 1:32 PM CST

A high school football coach in Virginia has gone missing in the middle of an undefeated season, prompting an active search by state police. Authorities are trying to locate Travis Turner, head coach at Union High School in Wise County, reports USA Today. The Virginia State Police said special agents from its Bureau of Criminal Investigation were already investigating Turner when they went to his home in Appalachia, Virginia. He was already gone, however. Authorities emphasized that Turner's home wasn't being visited for an arrest, only as part of the investigation.

It wasn't until Sunday that Turner was officially listed as missing on the Virginia State Police website. No details about the nature of the criminal investigation have been released, and authorities haven't publicly speculated about Turner's whereabouts. "At this time, a staff member has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an external agency reviews an allegation that was reported to us," Wise County Schools said Friday, per WCYB. "This is standard procedure and not a determination of wrongdoing. The division cannot comment further."

Police say the search effort, involving drones and K9 units, has focused on the area around the 46-year-old coach's home, People reports. Police say he was last seen walking into the woods. The case has drawn extra attention because Union, which had an 11-0 record in the regular season, is in the middle of the state playoffs. A day after the coach disappeared, the Union Bears, under the leadership of assistant coach Jay Edwards, advanced to a regional semifinal with a 12-0 win over Graham High School.