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The fugitive Virginia high school football coach wanted for allegedly possessing child pornography and soliciting a minor was a respected community leader and a former star quarterback prior to his mysterious disappearance last week.
Union High School football coach Travis Turner, 46, now faces five counts of possessing child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, according to a warrant obtained by Virginia State Police (VSP). Additional charges are pending.
The 46-year-old married father of three has been missing since Thursday when special agents attempted to interview him as part of their previously undisclosed investigation. While en route to his home, officers were informed he was no longer at the residence and was last seen entering the nearby woods in a grey sweatshirt, grey sweatpants and glasses.
Since then, his undefeated football team won a playoff game in his absence before police ultimately revealed their arrest warrant for Turner on Tuesday, sending shockwaves through the community.
'I feel so bad for his family,' one concerned citizen wrote on Facebook. 'His wife and kids having to deal with this and also him missing. Let's just pray for them.'
The mood in Big Stone Gap, Virginia has understandably taken a dramatic turn from early last week, when Turner's Bears were happily focused on their ongoing playoff run.
Travis Turner is pictured alongside wife Leslie, who is a fixture at Union High football games
Turner (left) married Leslie, who was a psychology major as he played college football
Turner was once a star athlete in nearby Appalachia, Virginia, where he started at quarterback on three state champions coached by his legendary father, Tom, who passed away in 2006.
And like his father, Turner would agree to play football at Virginia Tech in nearby Blacksburg.
'Tech wants him as an athlete,' Tom Turner, a former Hokies defensive lineman, told the Roanoke Times in 1997. 'But [the Hokies] told him they'll give him a chance to play quarterback, too. He's been going up there to camp since he was 4-years old, it seems.'
The Virginia Tech Hokies would become one of college football's most exciting teams in 1999 and 2000, albeit without Turner, who transferred to Virginia Wise when Heisman candidate and future first-overall NFL Draft pick Michael Vick arrived in Blacksburg.
Turner would ultimately finish his college football career at Eastern Kentucky, but not until after meeting his future wife, Leslie, a Wise County native and Virginia Wise psychology major.
The couple would go on to have three kids, according to online reports and photos contained on Leslie's Facebook page, all while Turner's profile among Virginia high school football coaches continued to soar.
Travis Turner originally enrolled at Virginia Tech before transferring to Eastern Kentucky
Since taking over at Union in 2011, Turner has twice been honored as Southwest Virginia Coach of the Year as his Bears established themselves as a regional power.
Soon Turner found himself getting phone calls from college recruiters and sports writers about his talented players, including future Virginia Tech and Carolina Panthers tight end James Mitchell.
'He is the biggest thing to come out of southwest Virginia since Thomas Jones and Heath Miller,' Turner told the Athletic in 2019, referencing two of the region's former NFL stars.
And Turner wasn't just a high school coach, who spent four years with his players before they went off to college. Rather, thanks to his own sons' involvement in local sports, he watched his players grow up from their early days in peewee football.
'Every time he'd catch a pass, it was a touchdown,' Turner said of watching a young Mitchell play alongside his own son. 'Kids couldn't tackle him. And he was just so naturally gifted of a runner.'
Mitchell later became a fifth-round pick of the Detroit Lions in 2022 before having his jersey retired at Union High a few months later.
In fact, as seen on Mitchell's Instagram page, Turner is pictured alongside the future NFL player's family during that joyous ceremony in Big Stone Gap.
The Turner's rural region of Virginia is tucked deep in the Appalachian Mountains
Things appeared to be coming together for the Bears in 2025 coming off a 9-4 season.
Thanks to an experienced roster with a number of returning starters, Union High School was seen by many in the region as a state title contender entering the season.
'Those guys, they've been through the fire,' Turner told WCYB.com of his players in August. 'They know how to handle adversity and how to overcome and been in some big we've been in some big ball games last couple of years, and got a chance to hopefully playing some big ones this year.'
The team did not disappoint, winning games by scores of 62-6, 49-7, and 27-0 en route to another playoff berth.
Not even Turner's disappearance late last week could stop the Bears from beating Graham, 12-0, to set up Saturday's VHSL Class 2 Region 2D Championship against Ridgeview.
Of course, that success now seems secondary with Turner still missing.
Turner is pictured alongside is wife, Leslie, who has called for prayers to find her husband
Officers have been utilizing search and rescue teams, drones and K9 units to track him down without any success.
Meanwhile, a Wise County Public Schools spokesman 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 the school statement provided to the Daily Mail. 'The division will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as this process moves forward. Because this is an active legal matter involving personnel, the division cannot comment further.'
In a since-deleted Facebook post, his wife, Leslie, offered the following update on Saturday: 'I just wanted to get on here for a second to clear up something, as of right now, 10:25 PM on Friday night, Travis is missing, & that's all we know.
'We love him & need him here with us. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love & support. It means more than you know. Just keep praying that he comes home.'
An attorney representing the family released a statement on their behalf Tuesday.
'I speak today on behalf of Coach Turner’s family,' attorney Adrian Collins said in the statement provided to WCYB's Kristen Quon. '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. No questions will be taken.'
VSP officials are asking anyone with information about his disappearance to contact Division 4 at 276-484-9483 or email [email protected].
