The Virginia high school football coach who went missing on November 20 and was later revealed to be wanted on charges involving child sexual abuse material was last seen walking into the woods with a gun, the coach’s family says.
A statement from a law firm representing the family of Travis Turner, released Friday, said:
“The last known contact the family had with Travis occurred on or about Thursday, November 20, after he left his residence to walk in the woods with a firearm. He is believed to have entered a heavily wooded and mountainous area.”
At that time, the statement from attorney Adrian Collins noted that no warrants had been issued for Turner’s arrest. When Turner did not return home that evening, his wife notified law enforcement.
“She was advised that a missing-person report could not be taken until at least 24 hours had passed,” the attorney’s statement said. “The following day, she filed a missing-person report with the Virginia State Police. The family has cooperated fully with law enforcement in their ongoing efforts to locate Travis.”
Agents with the Virginia State Police’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation Wytheville Field Office were en route to Turner’s home on November 20 as part of an investigation when they were informed he was no longer there, police said.
State police later obtained a total of 10 warrants for Turner, 46, of Appalachia, Virginia, including five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, authorities confirmed.
Turner is a physical education teacher and head football coach at Union High School, in the Wise County public school district, according to the school’s website.
Amid his disappearance, the football team advanced to the Virginia regional final during a 12-0 season and remains undefeated.
Virginia State Police said earlier this week they are actively searching for Turner.
“Since his disappearance, VSP has utilized a number of assets, including search and rescue teams, drones, and K9s, to assist in the search,” state police said in a statement. “VSP’s main priority is locating Turner safely; he is now considered a fugitive.”
The statement from the Turner family’s attorney added that family members and friends have also been searching the woods.
“These efforts have been limited by weather conditions and with respect for the official operations underway,” the statement said. “It is the family’s prayer that Travis is safe and will have the opportunity to defend himself in a court of law.”
https://abcnews.go.com/US/missing-virginia-football-coach-wanted-child-sexual-abuse/story?id=127971375