Mystery deepens after high school football coach Travis Turner suddenly disappears amid child pornography investigation

Virginia police have obtained an arrest warrant for the missing coach of an undefeated high school football team, officials said on Tuesday, in connection to a child pornography and computer solicitation probe.

Travis Turner, 46, “is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor”, according a statement by Virginia State Police spokesperson Robin Lawson.

“The investigation remains ongoing. Additional charges are pending,” Lawson said.

Police are using dogs and drones in hopes of finding Turner, who is “now considered a fugitive”, Lawson said.

Turner, head coach of the Union High School Bears from Big Stone Gap, went missing on Thursday as his squad was preparing for a playoff game, officials said.

Without Turner on the sidelines, Union this past weekend defeated the Graham H.S. G-Men, 12-0, to advance in the Class 2 playoffs.

Union will play Ridgeview in the region final on Saturday afternoon, with the winner going to the state semi-finals on December 6.

Assistant coach Jay Edwards has been appointed interim coach.

Police declined to say Tuesday whether any victims or complaining witnesses are connected to the school.

“Wise County Public Schools is aware that law enforcement has filed charges against a staff member who has been on administrative leave,” according to a statement by Mike Goforth, division superintendent for Wise County Public Schools.

“The individual remains on leave and is not permitted on school property or to have contact with students.

“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.”

The mystery surrounding Turner’s disappearance deepened when state police disclosed on Monday that agents were seeking to interview him as “part of the investigation”, VSP spokesperson Matthew Demlien said then.

Demlien stressed that last week’s attempted police visit was not aimed at arresting Turner at that time.

A representative for Turner’s family pleaded with the public on Tuesday to withhold any judgment of the missing coach.

“We remain prayerful for his safe return and for everyone affected by the circumstances surrounding his disappearance,” family attorney Adrian Collins said in a statement.

“Any allegations should be addressed through the proper legal process — not through speculation or rumour. We ask the public and media to show compassion, accuracy, and respect for the family’s privacy.”

Union HS, with nearly 660 students, is in the far southwest corner of Virginia, about 275km west of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and approximately 225km northeast of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.