BREAKING: Virginia High School Football Coach: Travis Turner Wanted on Child Pornography Charges

Appalachia, Virginia – November 25, 2025  Virginia State Police have issued warrants for the arrest of Travis L. Turner, the 46-year-old head football coach at Union High School, on multiple counts of possessing child pornography and soliciting minors online. Turner, who vanished from his home last Thursday amid his team's undefeated playoff run, is now the subject of a nationwide manhunt rather than a simple missing persons case.

Authorities obtained 10 felony warrants against Turner on Monday, charging him with five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and five counts of using a computer to facilitate the solicitation of a minor. "This is an active and ongoing investigation," Virginia State Police spokesperson Corinne Geller said in a statement. "We are seeking the public's assistance in locating Turner, who should be considered a person of interest." The bombshell charges emerged just as search teams wrapped up a weekend of exhaustive efforts to find the 6'3" coach, who was last seen entering the woods near his Appalachia residence on November 20. Equipped with K-9 units, bloodhounds, drones, and ground search teams from multiple agencies, the operation scoured the rugged terrain of Wise County but turned up no trace of Turner. He was described as wearing a gray sweatshirt, gray sweatpants, and glasses at the time of his disappearance.

What began as a routine welfare check has spiraled into a criminal probe. Police revealed that special agents from the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation were en route to Turner's home on Thursday evening for what they described as "the early stages of an investigation." En route, they learned Turner had already fled the scene—not to evade an arrest, officials clarified at the time, but under circumstances now linked to the explosive allegations. "Agents were not dispatched to effect an arrest," Geller emphasized, though the timing of his exit has fueled speculation about what Turner may have known.

Turner's abrupt absence came at the worst possible moment for the Union High Bears, who boasted an 11-0 record heading into the playoffs. Assistant coach Jay Edwards stepped in as interim head, leading the team to a 12-0 victory over Graham High School in a regional quarterfinal the day after Turner's disappearance. The Bears advanced to the semifinals, but the sideline felt emptier without their longtime leader, who had helmed the program since 2011. "The kids are heartbroken, but they're fighters," Edwards told reporters after the win. "We're praying for Coach Turner—whatever that means right now."

The scandal has cast a long shadow over Wise County Public Schools, where Turner doubled as a physical education teacher. The district confirmed Friday that an unnamed staff member—widely presumed to be Turner—had been placed on paid administrative leave pending an external review of "an allegation reported to the division." School officials declined further comment, citing the sensitivity of the matter. "Our priority remains the safety and well-being of our students and staff," the district said in a terse statement.

Community reaction has been one of profound shock and grief. In Big Stone Gap, where Friday night lights are a rite of passage, Turner's name has long been synonymous with grit and glory. Parents and alumni gathered at local diners over the weekend, trading theories from foul play to voluntary flight. "Travis was the heart of this town," said one longtime booster, who asked not to be named. "This can't be real." Turner's wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, briefly posted on Facebook Friday night: "As of right now... Travis is missing, & that's all we know." The message was deleted shortly after, but screenshots circulated widely online.

The investigation's origins remain under wraps, but sources familiar with the case suggest it stems from digital forensics uncovered in recent weeks. Federal involvement has not been ruled out, given the interstate nature of online solicitation crimes. As of Tuesday morning, Turner remained at large, with no confirmed sightings beyond Virginia's borders.

17GEN4.com