Manhunt Continues for Fugitive Virginia Football Coach Travis Turner Amid Child Exploitation Charges

Appalachia, Virginia – November 28, 2025  In the rugged hills of southwest Virginia, the search for Travis L. Turner, the once-celebrated head football coach at Union High School, entered its ninth day Friday with no signs of the 46-year-old fugitive. Turner, who led the Bears to an undefeated 12-0 season and a berth in the state playoffs, vanished last Thursday amid a mounting police investigation into serious child exploitation allegations—a disappearance that has shattered the close-knit Appalachian community he once embodied.

Virginia State Police confirmed Thursday that Turner faces 10 felony warrants: five counts of possession of child sexual abuse material and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor. The charges stem from an ongoing digital forensics probe, though authorities have released few details about the alleged victims or the timeline of the offenses. "Turner is considered armed and dangerous and should not be approached," said VSP spokesperson Corinne Geller in a midday update.

The manhunt, now involving state troopers, local search-and-rescue teams, K-9 units, and aerial drones, remains concentrated in the densely wooded terrain surrounding Turner's home in Appalachia, a small town in Wise County nestled in the Clinch Mountains. Last seen walking into the woods near his residence on November 20, Turner has evaded capture despite exhaustive efforts. Temperatures in the region dipped to 25 degrees overnight, raising concerns about his survival in the harsh November chill.

Regarding his home, police did visit Turner's residence on November 20 as part of the initial investigation—not initially to arrest him, but to question him in connection with the emerging evidence. However, Turner had already fled by the time officers arrived, slipping away undetected. While specifics on a full forensic search of the property have not been publicly disclosed, investigators have since obtained search warrants related to the child pornography charges, which likely included examination of electronic devices and other materials from the home. VSP has not confirmed whether the residence itself was physically searched beyond the initial welfare check, but the focus of ground operations has shifted to the surrounding 10-mile radius of rugged forest and trails.

The scandal has rippled through Union High School, where Turner's profile was quietly scrubbed from the faculty directory and athletics page by Friday morning, according to reports from the New York Post. The coach, who had been with the school for over a decade, was placed on paid administrative leave the day after his disappearance, with district officials barring him from campus or contact with students. This marks the second such controversy at Union High in two years; in 2023, another staff member faced child sex abuse charges, prompting widespread parental outrage and calls for systemic reforms.

Turner's family, through attorney Adrian Collins of AJC Law, issued a statement Thursday pleading for privacy and restraint. "We remain prayerful for his safe return and for everyone affected by the circumstances surrounding his disappearance," Collins said. "We trust God to bring truth and clarity in His time. Any allegations should be addressed through the proper legal process—not through speculation or rumor." Leslie Caudill Turner, the coach's wife of 20 years, has deactivated her social media accounts amid a barrage of online scrutiny, further fueling rumors in the insular community.

As the Bears prepare to play without their sidelined leader this weekend—potentially advancing to the state championship—residents of Appalachia grapple with betrayal. "He was our hero, the guy who turned this team around," said local parent Maria Ruiz, speaking to CNN outside the school's field house. "Now it's all tainted. How do we explain this to our kids?"

Kentucky State Police have issued a "be on the lookout" alert across the border, given the proximity of the tri-state area, but no boots-on-the-ground operations are active there. Tips continue to pour in, though most have proven fruitless. VSP's Geller emphasized that the investigation is "active and ongoing," with federal agencies like the FBI assisting in digital tracking.

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