Rumors surrounding Virginia high school football coach Travis L. Turner had been circulating for years before authorities formally launched an investigation, officials said.
According to Fox News, Turner, 46, was charged Tuesday with five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, with authorities noting that additional charges are pending.
Turner had been reported missing on Friday, Nov. 21, just one day after law enforcement visited his home in Appalachia, Virginia.
Special agents from the VSP Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Wytheville Field Office were en route to speak with Turner when they discovered he could not be located.
Authorities emphasized that they were initially planning only to speak with Turner and had no immediate plans to arrest him. “VSP’s main priority is locating Turner safely,” a statement read.
The charges and Turner’s disappearance have sent shockwaves through the Union High School community. Some residents expressed sadness and disbelief over the allegations.
“Our community is hurting right now,” a former Union High student wrote, according to The New York Post. “Many of us grew up with Travis Turner as a coach, a mentor, or a familiar face at school events. What has recently happened is devastating and has broke the trust we had in someone who held a position of responsibility and influence.”
At the same time, other social media posts suggest that rumors about Turner’s alleged misconduct had been present in the community for years. Some claimed that additional individuals may have been involved in similar crimes.
The allegations are not the first to affect Union High School. In 2023, teacher and coach Timothy Lee Meador pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child, serving just over a year in prison. Both Meador and Turner had worked at the school simultaneously, though Meador’s coaching role was not specified.
Turner’s wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, has denied the allegations. “None of that is true,” she told The Daily Mail. “He’s a good dad and a good husband, and we want him home. That’s it. I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything. I’m sorry.”
Wise County Public Schools confirmed that a staff member had been placed on administrative leave during the investigation and remains on leave without contact with students. Superintendent Mike Goforth said the division would continue to cooperate with law enforcement, but could not comment further due to the active legal matter.
Turner comes from a longstanding local football family. His late father, Tom Turner, coached at Appalachia High School for 26 years, leading his teams to five state championships before passing away in 2006.
