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The fugitive high school football coach being hunted by police on child porn charges talked about challenges and overcoming adversity in his final interview before fleeing his Virginia home, the Daily Mail can reveal.
Travis Turner, head football coach at Union High School, in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, is wanted on five counts of possessing child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, with additional charges pending, State Police announced on Tuesday.
Cops continue to hunt for the missing 46-year-old father-of-three, who is 'now considered a fugitive' after vanishing from his home in Appalachia, close to the Kentucky border, last Thursday, November 20.
Turner disappeared as special agents from the Virginia Bureau of Criminal Investigation traveled to his home as part of their investigation. They were not on their way to arrest him, the force said.
In his final video interview on November 15, just five days before he vanished, he gave no hint he felt anything was amiss or that he would be at the center of a massive police search and child porn probe.
In a post-game interview praising his side, the Union Bears, after their 40-7 opening round playoff win over the Lee High School Generals, Turner told Mountain Mojo Sports Talk: 'I thought our kids played hard and I thought we overcame some adversity.'
Missing high school football coach Travis Turner is now wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor
He suggested that despite Lee initially controlling the game the Bears defensive players did a good job of 'limiting their offense a little bit'.
But Turner gave no clue it would be his final post-match interview when asked about the challenges his players would face in their next game against the Graham High School 'G-men'.
'They're super athletic, they're right down there defending state champions…one of the top teams in two-way,' he went on.
'We've played those guys 15-16 times, I guess it seems like they know us and we know them.
'So it's gonna be a tough one. It's gonna be a challenge, and yeah we get this far in the playoffs, they're all gonna be tough.'
Ultimately, Turner vanished on November 20, leaving assistant coach Jay Edward to take over coaching duties for last Saturday's November 22 Graham game and as the season comes to an end.
Despite Turner's disappearance, the Union Bears won the game against Graham 12-0. The victory pushed their record to 11-0 for the season.
In his last post-game interview on November 15, Turner appeared calm and confident and gave no indication he was soon to flee
Turner was the head football coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, which is supporting the family, according to his wife
The Bears will host Ridgeview for the Region 2D title game on Saturday.
In video and photographs taken on November 15, Turner is seen leading his team on to the field to a guard of pom-pom waving cheerleaders and a jubilant crowd celebration.
In an earlier – and now highly ironic – post-game interview on October 9, Turner told of the importance of ignoring 'outside noise' and always 'showing up'.
Asked what he does to keep his team focused despite the 'buzz' after their back-to-back wins, including that day's 42-21 victory over Ridgeview, he said: 'Obviously try to tell them to block out the external, that outside noise, you don't wanna get caught up in that stuff, you just gotta show up and play.'
'In the Mountain 7, you got to show up every Friday night, ready to play. We play a tough schedule, our schedule is not gonna be easy.
'We got an undefeated Lebanon coming in Bullitt Park next week, they're gonna play their best game. We play 3A Abingdon on the road in a couple of weeks so it doesn't get any easier.'
Turner, picture with his wife, is wanted on five counts of possessing child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor
Turner's sudden disappearance came after he led Union to an undefeated season and the team ranked among the top in the state within their division
His side ultimately went on to beat Lebanon and Abingdon as part of their undefeated season, ranking among the top in the state within their division.
Turner has served as the head coach at Union since 2011 and was honored twice as the Southwest Virginia Coach of the Year.
A former high school football star, he quarterbacked three state championship teams from 1994-97.
The emergence of the videos comes after Turner's wife exclusively told the Daily Mail that the child porn charges against her husband are untrue and that he is a good husband and father.
At the couple's remote three-bed home in Appalachia, Turner's paralegal wife Leslie, also 46, said she had no knowledge of her husband's alleged inappropriate contact with minors.
'I don't know anything. I don't know anything. I'm sorry,' she said.
Turner's wife Leslie has called for prayers to find her husband and praised him for being a 'good dad and a good husband'
Turner broke her silence on Tuesday outside of their family home in Appalachia, Virginia
When asked about the child porn charges for which police are seeking Turner, Leslie rose to her husband's defense: 'None of that is true. He's a good dad and a good husband and we want him home. That's it.'
She added that it remains a difficult time for the family as police continue to search for Turner, who vanished late last week.
'We are all just hanging in there until we get news,' she said.
Police have been utilizing search and rescue teams, drones and even K9 units to track down Turner after they were unable to locate him last Thursday night.
As part of the early stages of their investigation into him, VSP Special Agents were sent to Turner's $150,000 Appalachia home.
While in transit, however, the agents were informed that Turner was no longer at the location.
He was last seen entering the woods near his home in a gray sweatshirt, gray sweatpants and glasses, police told local TV.
Asked about speculation that her husband has run off with a rifle, Leslie said: 'I was told not to comment.'
She added that Union High School - the public school where her husband was head football coach - was supporting the family.
Turner was previously listed on the school website as head coach, but after the charges were announced, his staff profile vanished.
A spokesman for Wise County Public Schools, which oversees Union High, said the district is aware of the charges and, without naming Turner, declined further comment.
'The individual remains on leave and is not permitted on school property or to have contact with students,' read a statement.
Turner has officially been declared a missing person
Asked if the unnamed staffer is her husband, Leslie said: 'I don't know anything about that.'
Adrian Collins, an attorney representing the Turner family said in a statement, reported by WCYB: 'I speak today on behalf of Coach Turner's family.
'We remain prayerful for his safe return and for everyone affected by the circumstances surrounding his disappearance.
'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.
'We ask the public and media to show compassion, accuracy, and respect for the family's privacy.'
