VA VA - Search continues Saturday for Union High School football coach Travis L. Turner, 46, of Appalachia - Missing since 20 Nov 2025

[steeltowngirl]

Considering how long he’s been missing, I’m thinking somebody with a car picked him up and he is nowhere near those woods they’re searching in.

Maybe the same somebody that tipped him off that the law was about to pay him a visit.

JMO

 

[wendybtn]

He had already been placed on administrative leave before that Thursday evening when he left.

 

[whitelilac]

He had already been placed on administrative leave before that Thursday evening when he left.

Well then he had some advance notice to organize a getaway with someone.
I was under the impression that he only had a very short timeline between finding out the cops were coming to his house, and taking off in the woods.

 

[Knox]

Also wondering if TT's admin leave will continue with pay, now that he's a fugitive.

Does it continue after being charged with felonies related to his employment?

 

[Knox]

Maybe the same somebody that tipped him off that the law was about to pay him a visit.

JMO

I have no doubt someone at the school tipped him off, but also could have been a buddy in local LE I guess.

Here’s where my imagination starts going, was he the only one?

 

[airportwoman]

I'm wondering how the authorities discovered this. Did a minor talk to his/her parents, did a parent discover their kid was in contact with a suspicious person, was he exposed by a colleague or someone else ? Since LE is taking this very seriously and quickly, they must have some pretty solid evidence.

It's beyond me that a man respected by the community with great success as a coach would risk everything with his sick proclivities, but here we are.

And especially a winning football coach.

 

[Cryptic]

I'm wondering how the authorities discovered this. Did a minor talk to his/her parents, did a parent discover their kid was in contact with a suspicious person, was he exposed by a colleague or someone else ?

To me, all of your possibilities are plausible.

In my "neck of the woods", however, coaches are required to teach three class hours per day (though there can be creativity on what constitutes a "class" and whether the coach is truly present for the required number of hours).

All the above aside, coaches here are often assigned to teach "at risk youth" students for a variety of reasons. If I were to hazard a guess, I would pick 'parent' pursuing a complaint made by an at risk type student.

 

[steeltowngirl]

I feel bad for the student football players who are excited and preparing for the playoff game this Saturday. Media tried to talk to some of them last weekend.

Defensive coordinator Jason Edwards stepped in as interim head coach in Union's victory over Graham last weekend, according to the Bristol Herald Courier, which also reported that Bears players didn't want to talk afterward about the situation involving Turner.

Missing Virginia high school football coach is wanted on child porn charges, police say

A Virginia high school football coach is being sought on charges of possessing child pornography and using a computer to solicit a minor, Virginia State Police say.

www.cbsnews.com

 

[Megnut]

If the allegations are true, one man with criminal proclivities and actions but the damage is vast. The victim(s), his family, his players, the school, the community, humanity.

The betrayal knows no end.

JMO

 

[Knox]

I feel bad for the student football players who are excited and preparing for the playoff game this Saturday. Media tried to talk to some of them last weekend.

Defensive coordinator Jason Edwards stepped in as interim head coach in Union's victory over Graham last weekend, according to the Bristol Herald Courier, which also reported that Bears players didn't want to talk afterward about the situation involving Turner.

Missing Virginia high school football coach is wanted on child porn charges, police say

A Virginia high school football coach is being sought on charges of possessing child pornography and using a computer to solicit a minor, Virginia State Police say.

www.cbsnews.com

Media shouldn’t be asking the players anything about this case in my opinion, hard line that shouldn’t be crossed.

The situation is obviously going to be referred to in news stories about the playoffs, MSM is capitalizing on the situation. But come on reporters, leave the kids out of requests for comments.

Coming up on a week since TT foot bailed, I’m beginning to wonder if someone picked him up and he left the area? Should have been found by now if he stayed in the woods?

 

[Msl1966]

Could he have been picked up by the minor? I’m assuming a “minor” includes anyone under 18. Possibly the investigators were interviewing the minor prior to going to his house…the minor gave him a heads up and they took off. I realize this would likely be included in the news if the minor was missing, but just a thought.

 

[Knox]

Rumors of allegations against the Virginia high school football coach who disappeared just days before being slapped with child pornography charges had been circulating for years before authorities launched an investigation, according to reports.

Authorities announced Tuesday that they have obtained 10 warrants to charge Travis L. Turner, 46, with five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor.

The allegations are not the first to rock the Union High School community.

In 2023, Timothy Lee Meador, a teacher and coach at the same school, pleaded guilty to two charges of indecent liberties with a child, ABC 7 Wise County Public Schools previously confirmed that a staff member employed by the district had been placed on administrative leave pending review of an external allegation. However, the statement did not identify the staff member involved.

https://www.whmi.com/news/fox/virginia-high-school-coach-labeled-fugitive-local-community-alleges-long-known-accusations-report

 

[Eli9]

And a third from the same school

Friends of vanished football coach wanted on child porn charges speak

Turner, 46, is the head football coach of the Virginia Union High School team but was last seen entering the woods near his home as agents headed to interview him.

www.dailymail.co.uk

ncredibly, a third high school employee in the same Wise County School System was also arrested and charged earlier this year on three counts of carnal knowledge and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial/supervisory relationship.

Tyler Jay Tibbs, 28, who worked at Coeburn Middle School - a short 25-minute drive from Union High School - was arrested in August, before being taken to Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.

It was later reported that he was bonded out of Duffield Regional Jail on a $25,000 bond, and the investigation into his alleged crimes is believed to be ongoing.

 

[Knox]

And a third from the same school

Friends of vanished football coach wanted on child porn charges speak

Turner, 46, is the head football coach of the Virginia Union High School team but was last seen entering the woods near his home as agents headed to interview him.

www.dailymail.co.uk

ncredibly, a third high school employee in the same Wise County School System was also arrested and charged earlier this year on three counts of carnal knowledge and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial/supervisory relationship.

Tyler Jay Tibbs, 28, who worked at Coeburn Middle School - a short 25-minute drive from Union High School - was arrested in August, before being taken to Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.

It was later reported that he was bonded out of Duffield Regional Jail on a $25,000 bond, and the investigation into his alleged crimes is believed to be ongoing.

What are the odds of that? Sounds like a systemic issue, scary!

But google tell me this happens frequently nation-wide, why is this sickness uptrending?

 

[Trino]

Missing football coach's wife breaks silence on his child porn charges

Virginia State Police announced Tuesday that Turner is wanted on five counts of possessing child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor.

www.dailymail.co.uk

Wife denies husband's charges, which makes me very sad for some reason.

Using logic... If he was innocent, why did he take off? May take her a bit to realize... Her photo is online. Nice looking. Hope she moves on.

 

[lightofmine99]

Most of the football players are minors so they shouldn't be bothered by the media. As far as the 18/19 year olds I don't know, but I don't see what good could come out of any of them making statements.

 

[Megnut]

What are the odds of that? Sounds like a systemic issue, scary!

But google tell me this happens frequently nation-wide, why is this sickness uptrending?

Guessing the FBI is just this much better at uncovering it.

A scourge, for sure.

JMO

 

[Vaderman]

There was a somewhat similar case local to my area where a man went missing just as he was being investigated for the same crimes. He was later found in woods and had killed himself.

I imagine this is the outcome for this case. JMO

 

[Cryptic]

Should have been found by now if he stayed in the woods?

I think the answer to this question is an emphatic, clear and decisive....."Yes, but maybe no".

If he is alive, I think your conclusion is good. He likely would have been found or has left the area.

If he is not alive, thick woods and hilly terrain can be hard to search extensively in the true sense of the word. Then factor in the possibility that if his intent was to commit suicide, he might have deliberately chosen a difficult to find place.

 

[bluestsocks]

There was a somewhat similar case local to my area where a man went missing just as he was being investigated for the same crimes. He was later found in woods and had killed himself.

I imagine this is the outcome for this case. JMO

Not to be morbid, but I hope the searchers are looking up.