Virginia police obtained an arrest warrant for the missing coach of an undefeated high school football team, officials said Tuesday, in connection to a child pornography 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,” Lawson added. “Additional charges are pending.”
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 (12-0) will play Ridgeview in the region final on Saturday afternoon, with the winner going to the state semifinals on Dec. 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,” Goforth said. “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.
Union H.S., with nearly 660 students, is in the far southwest corner of Virginia, about 170 miles west of Virginia Tech in Blacksburg and approximately 140 miles northeast of the University of Tennessee in Knoxville.
This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.
