A Virginia high school has erased nearly all public traces of Union Bears football coach Travis Turner after he disappeared while under investigation for a series of disturbing child sex-related charges.
According to the New York Post, Turner, 46, had been widely praised in the community for helping guide Union High School’s football team through an undefeated season.
But that acclaim evaporated almost overnight as investigators revealed they had issued 10 warrants for his arrest — five for possessing child pornography and five for using a computer to solicit a minor.
In the days since the investigation became public, the school’s website has been fully scrubbed of Turner’s presence. His name has been removed despite his 11-year tenure as both a football coach and a physical education teacher.
The only Turner listed is his son, Bailey Turner, who also works at the school. The varsity football page now shows no head coach at all.
Turner vanished from his home in Appalachia last Thursday, moments before investigators arrived to execute the warrants. He was placed on paid leave the following day. Authorities have since launched a large-scale search effort using K-9 teams, drones and personnel across the surrounding area.
The school division issued a brief statement acknowledging it was aware of the investigation, emphasizing that “the individual remains on leave and is not permitted on school property or to have contact with students.”
Despite the growing allegations, Turner’s wife, Leslie Turner, 46, has publicly defended him. “None of that is true. He’s a good dad and a good husband,” she told MailOnline, insisting he is innocent even as the search for him continues.
Turner comes from a well-known football family in the region. His father, Tom Turner, was a coach at Union High and earned All American honors in college, according to Sports Illustrated.
This is not the first time Union High School has faced a scandal involving a staff member. In 2023, teacher and coach Timothy Lee Meador pleaded guilty to child solicitation and remains a registered sex offender in the area.
Local authorities continue to search for Turner as the investigation deepens and the community grapples with the sudden fall of one of its most celebrated coaches.
