A Virginia high school football coach who disappeared before his team’s playoff game has been charged with several child pornography crimes, police said Tuesday.
Travis Turner, 46, is now considered a fugitive after Virginia State Police obtained 10 warrants charging him with five counts of possessing child porn and five counts of soliciting a minor.
Cops last Thursday initially visited Turner’s home in the tiny town of Appalachia, about 160 miles northwest of Charlotte in far western Virginia, but he was nowhere to be seen. According to state police, “this was part of the investigation, and not to arrest him.”
After the visit, Turner was reported missing. He was described as a 6-foot-3, 260-pound man wearing a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants, with glasses.
But on Monday, cops obtained the 10 warrants for his arrest, and they announced their search Tuesday in a Facebook post.
“Police are actively searching for Turner,” Virginia State Police wrote. “Since his disappearance, VSP has utilized a number of assets, including search and rescue teams, drones and K9s, to assist in the search. VSP’s main priority is locating Turner safely; he is now considered a fugitive.”
Turner’s football team at Union High School went undefeated in the regular season and won its first two playoff games, including a 12-0 win over Graham High School on Nov. 22 without Turner. The team is set to play in a regional final (and state quarterfinal) on Nov. 29 against Ridgeview High, who they defeated 42-21 in the regular season.
Turner also had a notable college career himself, quarterbacking Eastern Kentucky in 2002. During the Colonels’ 8-4 season, Turner competed against future NFL quarterbacks Tony Romo and Derek Anderson.
