APPALACHIA, VA - The wife of missing Virginia high school football coach Travis Turner broke her silence and is urging people to "keep praying" that her husband returns home after he mysteriously vanished in the middle of an undefeated season.
"I just wanted to get on here for a second to clear up something, as of right now, 10:35 p.m. on Friday night, Travis is missing, & that's all we know," Leslie Turner wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post, obtained by News Channel 11. "We love him & need him here with us. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love & support. It means more than you know. Just keep praying that he comes home," she wrote.
The Virginia State Police (VSP) confirmed on Saturday, November 22, that an active search was taking place in an attempt to locate Travis, 46. He was officially listed as a missing person on Sunday, November 23 after last being seen on Thursday, November 20, according to VSP.
Turner, the head gridiron coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants, authorities said. Officers were reportedly dispatched to his home Thursday evening to investigate a complaint, not arrest him. After they arrived, police discovered Turner was no longer there, the New York Post reported.
In an update from NBC News, VSP reportedly obtained an arrest warrant for Turner in connection to an alleged child pornography and computer solicitation charge. Turner is "wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor," according to a statement by VSP spokesperson Robin Lawson.
"The investigation remains ongoing," Lawson added. "Additional charges are pending." On the same day that police went to Turner's house to investigate the alleged complaint, officials at Wise County Public Schools, which oversees Union High, disclosed that an employee within the district had been placed on administrative leave amid an ongoing investigation.
Neither police or school officials would confirm whether Turner was the employee placed on leave or the subject of the investigation. "A staff member has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an external agency reviews an allegation that was reported to the division," the district said in a statement. They did not elaborate any further.
"This is standard procedure and not a determination of wrongdoing. This situation also involves an active law-enforcement matter, and the division cannot comment further." Police also declined to say whether any victims or complaining witnesses are connected to the school.
VSP have since launched a full-out search, utilizing search and rescue teams, drones, and K-9s to locate Turner. Jason Day with VSP said they have focused their search on the general location of Turner's house.
"We have had the drones up in the air looking, searching," Day said. "We tried to, get the state police aviation, but they were unable to fly yesterday because of the weather. We've had, K-9 units, bloodhounds from local departments, sheriff's office here, and wise state police dogs into the woods, searching, you know, the local area of last known, place where, Mr. Turner may have been or had seen."
"Jay Edwards is handling all coaching responsibilities, regarding Union High School's football game," Wise County Public Schools Superintendent Mike Goforth said in a statement.
The Union High School football team was in the midst of what should have been a celebratory, undefeated season when the head coach suddenly vanished. A representative for Turner's family pleaded with the public on Tuesday to withhold any judgement 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 rumor. We ask the public and media to show compassion, accuracy, and respect for the family's privacy."
"I just wanted to get on here for a second to clear up something, as of right now, 10:35 p.m. on Friday night, Travis is missing, & that's all we know," Leslie Turner wrote in a since-deleted Facebook post, obtained by News Channel 11. "We love him & need him here with us. Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love & support. It means more than you know. Just keep praying that he comes home," she wrote.
The Virginia State Police (VSP) confirmed on Saturday, November 22, that an active search was taking place in an attempt to locate Travis, 46. He was officially listed as a missing person on Sunday, November 23 after last being seen on Thursday, November 20, according to VSP.
Turner, the head gridiron coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants, authorities said. Officers were reportedly dispatched to his home Thursday evening to investigate a complaint, not arrest him. After they arrived, police discovered Turner was no longer there, the New York Post reported.
In an update from NBC News, VSP reportedly obtained an arrest warrant for Turner in connection to an alleged child pornography and computer solicitation charge. Turner is "wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor," according to a statement by VSP spokesperson Robin Lawson.
"The investigation remains ongoing," Lawson added. "Additional charges are pending." On the same day that police went to Turner's house to investigate the alleged complaint, officials at Wise County Public Schools, which oversees Union High, disclosed that an employee within the district had been placed on administrative leave amid an ongoing investigation.
Neither police or school officials would confirm whether Turner was the employee placed on leave or the subject of the investigation. "A staff member has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an external agency reviews an allegation that was reported to the division," the district said in a statement. They did not elaborate any further.
"This is standard procedure and not a determination of wrongdoing. This situation also involves an active law-enforcement matter, and the division cannot comment further." Police also declined to say whether any victims or complaining witnesses are connected to the school.
VSP have since launched a full-out search, utilizing search and rescue teams, drones, and K-9s to locate Turner. Jason Day with VSP said they have focused their search on the general location of Turner's house.
"We have had the drones up in the air looking, searching," Day said. "We tried to, get the state police aviation, but they were unable to fly yesterday because of the weather. We've had, K-9 units, bloodhounds from local departments, sheriff's office here, and wise state police dogs into the woods, searching, you know, the local area of last known, place where, Mr. Turner may have been or had seen."
"Jay Edwards is handling all coaching responsibilities, regarding Union High School's football game," Wise County Public Schools Superintendent Mike Goforth said in a statement.
The Union High School football team was in the midst of what should have been a celebratory, undefeated season when the head coach suddenly vanished. A representative for Turner's family pleaded with the public on Tuesday to withhold any judgement 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 rumor. We ask the public and media to show compassion, accuracy, and respect for the family's privacy."
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