Missing Va. football coach now a fugitive, charged with 10 sex-related crimes
.jpg "Missing Virginia high school football Travis Turner is seen in this undated photo. He has been charged with 10 counts related to sex crimes and remains missing.")
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- Virginia State Police label missing Union High coach Travis Turner a fugitive.
- Authorities issued 10 warrants, alleging child-porn possession and online solicitation.
- Search teams, drones and K9s from Virginia and Kentucky continue combing border area.
A missing high school football coach near the Kentucky-Virginia border is now considered a fugitive and wanted on 10 charges related to sex crimes, according to Virginia State Police.
Officials have issued warrants for Travis Turner, 46, of Appalachia, Va., for possession of child pornography and using a computer to solicit a minor charges. State police said Tuesday additional charges are pending.
Turner was last seen Nov. 20. That same day, Virginia State Police special agents from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation’s Wytheville field office were sent to Turner’s residence in Wise County and learned he was no longer at the home while en route, state police said. They were reportedly going to Turner’s house to investigate, not arrest him.
The investigation remains ongoing.
Since Turner’s disappearance, state police have used search and rescue teams, drones, K-9s and other resources to find him. Matt Gayheart, a spokesperson for Kentucky State Police’s post in Hazard, told the Herald-Leader Monday because of how close Wise County is to the border, Kentucky State Police are assisting with the search.
Turner is the head football coach at Union High School, a team in the midst of an undefeated season. WVVA reported he was not present for Union’s playoff game Nov. 22.
Officials with Wise County Publics Schools were not available for comment Tuesday, as the school district is off for Thanksgiving break. WCYB, a TV station in Bristol, Va., received an updated statement from the school district, however, which said the district was aware of the investigation into Turner, who is on administrative leave.
The school district told WCYB Turner is not allowed on school property or to contact students, and the school district is cooperating with the investigation.
Union High is about 30 minutes south of Jenkins. Union regularly played Letcher Central High School until 2020.
Anyone with information on Turner’s whereabouts is asked to call Virginia State Police Division 4 at 276-484-9483 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov. State police said tips can be made anonymously.
This story was originally published November 25, 2025 at 3:34 PM.
