US Marshals offer $5,000 reward in manhunt for missing Virginia high school coach accused in child porn case
U.S. Marshals are offering up to $5,000 for information leading to the arrest of Travis L. Turner, a missing Virginia high school football coach wanted on 10 warrants — five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor — as the USMS and FBI assist Virginia State Police in a multi‑jurisdiction search they say he "may be armed" and who was last seen Nov. 20 walking into wooded terrain with a firearm and reportedly left without essentials. Family attorney Adrian Collins and Turner's wife have denied the allegations and urged he return to face them; Wise County Public Schools has placed him on paid administrative leave, removed his staff profile and barred him from school property, and a judge has since sealed related court records.
đź“Ś Key Facts
- Virginia State Police (VSP) say warrants were obtained charging Travis L. Turner with 10 counts—five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor; additional charges are pending.
- Turner was last seen Nov. 20 walking into heavily wooded, mountainous terrain with a firearm; he was reported missing Nov. 21 after troopers visited his home to speak with him (not to arrest him), and authorities later labeled him a fugitive.
- VSP has launched a multi‑jurisdiction search using K‑9 units, drones, foot patrols and search‑and‑rescue teams; the U.S. Marshals Service and FBI are assisting and the U.S. Marshals are offering up to $5,000 for information leading to his arrest, warning he 'may be armed.'
- Family attorney Adrian Collins says the family is cooperating with law enforcement, that Turner left without essentials (car, keys, wallet, glasses/contacts, cash and prescription medications), and has urged him to return and face the allegations; the family also asked for privacy.
- VSP and other accounts say agents were en route to speak with Turner and had been instructed not to arrest him when they learned he was unaccounted for; the family says criminal charges were not obtained until days after he failed to return home.
- Wise County Public Schools placed Turner on paid administrative leave, barred him from school property and student contact, and removed his staff profile from the Union High School website; the district has acknowledged law enforcement filed charges.
- A Wise County judge ordered case records related to Turner sealed on Dec. 10, 2025; at a Dec. 8 school board meeting public comment was removed from the agenda because of a closed session on employment matters (scheduled to be reinstated Jan. 12, 2026), and the board said counseling resources are available to students.
- Local social‑media posts allege rumors of misconduct had circulated for years (unverified), and reporting noted context of a separate 2023 case at the same high school in which a teacher/coach pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a child.
đź“° Sources (9)
Missing Virginia coach Travis Turner fuels tense school board meeting as judge seals case records: report
New information:
- A Wise County judge ordered case records related to Travis Turner sealed on Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025.
- At the first Wise County School Board meeting since Turner’s disappearance (Monday, Dec. 8), public comment was removed from the agenda due to a closed session on employment matters; it is slated to be reinstated Jan. 12, 2026.
- Board Chair Larry Greear said the move aimed to keep focus on students and noted counseling resources were available at the school.
- The district reiterated the employee remains on paid administrative leave and barred from school property or contact with students; Turner’s staff profile was removed from the school website.
Missing coach Travis Turner left without essentials as family urges him to face child porn charges: Attorney
New information:
- Family attorney Adrian Collins says the family is cooperating; homes and properties have been searched multiple times with their consent.
- Attorney conveys a direct plea: the family urges Travis Turner to return and face the allegations in court.
- Details that Turner left without essentials — car, keys, wallet, glasses/contacts, cash, and prescription medications — when he disappeared.
- Attorney states criminal charges were not obtained until days after Turner failed to return home, asserting he was not a fugitive at the time of disappearance.
- Confirms he was last seen walking into nearby woods with a gun, a behavior the family says he had done multiple times over the years.
- Notes Union High School removed his staff profile and that he was placed on administrative leave (district later acknowledged charges had been filed).
US Marshals offer reward for fugitive Virginia football coach, warn he 'may be armed' as feds join manhunt
New information:
- U.S. Marshals Service is offering up to $5,000 for information leading to Travis L. Turner’s arrest.
- USMS and FBI are assisting Virginia State Police in the search; authorities warn Turner 'may be armed.'
- VSP reiterated the timeline: Turner was last seen Nov. 20 walking into wooded terrain with a firearm.
- Family attorney stated the wife was initially told to wait 24 hours before filing a missing-person report (filed the next day).
Fugitive football coach disappeared into woods with gun, family says
New information:
- Family attorney Adrian Collins says Turner was last seen Nov. 20 walking into a heavily wooded, mountainous area with a firearm.
- Family says no arrest warrants had been issued prior to his disappearance; wife was told to wait 24 hours before filing a missing-person report, which she filed Nov. 21 with VSP.
- Clothing description added: gray sweatshirt, sweatpants, and glasses.
- VSP search details: use of drones, K-9 units, and foot patrols across Wise County.
- Wife Leslie Caudill Turner publicly denies the allegations, calling him a good husband and father.
Fugitive high school coach erased as school scrubs staff profile amid child porn charges: report
New information:
- Union High School scrubbed Travis Turner's staff profile from its website after his disappearance and the announcement of charges.
- Wise County Public Schools issued an updated statement acknowledging law enforcement has filed charges; the staffer remains on leave and is barred from school property and student contact.
- Virginia State Police search details reiterated with specifics on resources (drones, K-9 units, foot patrols) and last seen clothing description (gray sweatshirt, sweatpants, glasses).
Virginia high school coach labeled 'fugitive' as local community alleges long-known accusations: report
New information:
- VSP agents were en route to speak with Travis Turner and had been instructed not to arrest him; they learned while traveling that he was unaccounted for.
- VSP emphasized in a statement that locating Turner safely is its main priority.
- Turner’s wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, publicly denied the allegations in comments to another outlet, saying he is a 'good dad and a good husband' and that the family wants him home.
- Local social-media posts cited by the report claim rumors of misconduct had circulated for years; some suggest 'others' may have been involved (unverified community claims).
- Context noted: a separate 2023 case at the same high school in which teacher/coach Timothy Lee Meador pleaded guilty to indecent liberties with a child.
Missing high school football coach is wanted on child porn charges, police say
New information:
- Family attorney Adrian Collins issued a statement asking for privacy and saying allegations should be addressed through the legal process.
- Virginia State Police say agents went to Turner’s home last Thursday to talk with him, not to arrest him, before learning he was gone.
- Wise County Public Schools reiterated Turner remains on leave and is barred from school property and student contact.
- Union High School’s team is 12-0; the defensive coordinator served as interim head coach in last weekend’s game.
- Warrants detail five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, with additional charges pending.
Virginia high school football coach considered 'fugitive' following mysterious disappearance: police
New information:
- VSP obtained 10 warrants: five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor.
- Turner is now considered a fugitive; VSP has launched a multi-jurisdiction manhunt using K-9 units, drones, and search-and-rescue teams.
- Warrants were issued Monday and announced Tuesday; additional charges are pending.
- Timeline update: Turner was reported missing Friday, Nov. 21, one day after troopers visited his home during early stages of an investigation (not to make an arrest).
- School district context: a staff member was placed on paid administrative leave pending an external review (district did not identify the employee).