Police were on their way to a Virginia football coach's house. Then they found he'd gone missing

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Police were on their way to a Virginia football coach’s house. Then they found he’d gone missing

CNN
November 24, 2025, 10:05 PM


Travis Lee Turner was last ween wearing a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants and glasses, according to Virginia State Police. (Courtesy Virginia State Police)

(CNN) — It was a big night for the football team at Union High School on Virginia’s northwest [sic. It's in far southwest Virginia.] edge: They were set to play a pivotal game after going undefeated all season.

The Union High School Bears soared to another victory, their 12th since the season began in August, as they advanced to the regional finals, two games away from a potential state championship.

But the coach who had guided them throughout the season wasn’t there to cheer them on. He had disappeared earlier that week — and is now the subject of a missing persons investigation.

Travis Turner, listed as a physical education teacher and the head football coach at Union High School, has been missing since Thursday, according to Virginia State Police. They say the 46-year-old was last seen wearing a grey sweatshirt, sweatpants and glasses.

{snip}

[hlthe2b]

1. Reading the article, it sounds as though both team, local community, and certainly state police know a whole lot more

than they are saying. The disappearance doesn't even seem to have been taken as that much of a surprise--even by the team.

So, whatever it is, I suspect it does involve the coach as more than a victim... We shall see...

[underpants]

3. Yeah. What were the State Police special agents investigating?

Authorities didn’t share when or where Turner was last seen. But the mystery starts before his disappearance: Virginia State Police special agents were sent to his home in Appalachia, a town of fewer than 2,000 people, Thursday evening, officials told CNN.

Police say the agents were sent as part of “the early stages of an investigation,” but that they did not go to arrest the football coach. It’s unclear what the investigation is about.

“While in transit, the agents were informed that Turner was no longer at the location,” the agency said.

[UpInArms]

2. That second picture looks like a mug shot

Wise County Public Schools, which includes Union, responded to CNN’s questions about Turner with a statement saying that, “A staff member has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an external agency reviews an allegation that was reported to the division. This is standard procedure and is not a determination of wrongdoing. This situation also involves an active law-enforcement matter, and the division cannot comment further.”

Before Saturday’s game, a pastor led a community prayer. Pastor Bryan Gunter said, “We can count on our community to be bigger than the situation we’re facing,” in an interview with CNN affiliate WCYB.

I love how they want to pray their troubles away

[timms139]

4. It has to do with

a female student and her friend letting out that she has pics sent by the coach on her phone and the parents found out. This is what was said when he first went missing and also told that they had found him deceased but no ideal if any of it is fact .

[mahatmakanejeeves]

5. Missing Virginia high school football coach wanted on charges of child pornography

Last edited Tue Nov 25, 2025, 04:34 PM - Edit history (2)

Missing Virginia high school football coach wanted on charges of child pornography

Travis Turner, 46, is now considered a fugitive who is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, police said.


---------- Travis L. Turner.WCYB NBC5 archive

Nov. 25, 2025, 10:59 AM EST / Updated Nov. 25, 2025, 12:17 PM EST
By David K. Li

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.

{snip}

This is a developing story. Please refresh for updates.

David K. Li
Senior Breaking News Reporter

[underpants]

6. Yep. I just saw it on a local news guy's Facebook

[timms139]

7. He's in big

trouble now. State police confirmed Tuesday that Turner, 46, is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor