2 days ago
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The fugitive high school football coach wanted for allegedly possessing child pornography has had his profile removed from the school's website.
Union High School football coach Travis Turner, 46, faces five counts of possessing child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, according to a warrant obtained by Virginia State Police (VSP). Additional charges are pending.
Earlier in the week, a spokesman for Wise County Public Schools, which oversees Union High, said the district is aware of the charges and, without naming Turner, declined further comment.
'The individual remains on leave and is not permitted on school property or to have contact with students,' read a statement.
However, just days later, Union High School - where Turner had worked since 2011 before going on the run - have removed his profile from their website.
As per their website, the only 'Turner' currently listed as a member of staff is Travis' eldest son Bailey, who works as a physical education teacher at Union.
Missing high school football coach Travis Turner is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor
Turner was the head football coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia
Turner, 46, has since been removed from Union High School's website. The only 'Turner' listed as a member of staff is his son, Bailey, who works as a physical education teacher
In the wake of Turner's scandal, it emerged that he is not the first coach at the school to be accused of such crimes, after Timothy Lee Meador was jailed two years ago.
Per KATV and WYMT, Meador - then a teacher at the school in Big Stone Gap, Virginia - was arrested and charged on one count of child solicitation and two counts of indecent liberties.
According to the Commonwealth's Attorney, he later pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child and served one year and three months in prison.
Meador, now 30, was immediately banned from the school and remains active on the Virginia State Police Sex Offender Registry.
Incredibly, a third high school employee in the same Wise County School System was also arrested and charged earlier this year on three counts of carnal knowledge and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial/supervisory relationship.
Tyler Jay Tibbs, 28, who worked at Coeburn Middle School - a short 25-minute drive from Union High School - was arrested in August, before being taken to Southwest Virginia Regional Jail.
It was later reported that he was bonded out of Duffield Regional Jail on a $25,000 bond, and the investigation into his alleged crimes is believed to be ongoing.
The removal of Turner's profile comes after Turner's wife exclusively told the Daily Mail that the child porn charges against her husband are untrue.
Travis Turner is pictured alongside wife Leslie, who is a fixture at Union High football games
Timothy Lee Meador (left) also worked at Union High School and remains active on the Sex Offender Registry. Tyler Jay Tibbs (right) was arrested on similar charges earlier this year. He worked at a different school a 25-minute drive away
At the couple's home in Appalachia, Turner's paralegal wife Leslie, also 46, said she had no knowledge of her husband's alleged inappropriate contact with minors.
'I don't know anything. I don't know anything. I'm sorry,' she said.
When asked about the child porn charges for which police are seeking Turner, Leslie rose to her husband's defense: 'None of that is true. He's a good dad and a good husband and we want him home. That's it.'
She added that it remains a difficult time for the family as police continue to search for Turner, who vanished late last week.
'We are all just hanging in there until we get news,' she said.
Cops continue to hunt for the missing 46-year-old father-of-three, who is 'now considered a fugitive' after vanishing from his home in Appalachia, close to the Kentucky border, last Thursday, November 20.
Turner disappeared as special agents from the Virginia Bureau of Criminal Investigation traveled to his home as part of their investigation. They were not on their way to arrest him, the force said.
Turner was last seen entering the woods near his home, prompting officers to focus on the area surrounding his home. He was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, gray sweatpants and glasses.
Police have been utilizing search and rescue teams, drones and even K9 units to track down Turner after they were unable to locate him last Thursday night.
Turner's wife Leslie has called for prayers to find her husband and praised him for being a 'good dad and a good husband'
Turner's sudden disappearance came after he led Union to an undefeated season and the team ranked among the top in the state within their division
Meanwhile, in a haunting video obtained by the Daily Mail, Turner talked about challenges and overcoming adversity in his final interview before fleeing his home.
In a post-game interview praising his side, the Union Bears, after their 40-7 opening round playoff win over the Lee High School Generals, Turner told Mountain Mojo Sports Talk: 'I thought our kids played hard and I thought we overcame some adversity.'
He suggested that despite Lee initially controlling the game the Bears defensive players did a good job of 'limiting their offense a little bit'.
But Turner gave no clue it would be his final post-match interview when asked about the challenges his players would face in their next game against the Graham High School 'G-men'.
'They're super athletic, they're right down there defending state champions…one of the top teams in two-way,' he went on.
'We've played those guys 15-16 times, I guess it seems like they know us and we know them.
'So it's gonna be a tough one. It's gonna be a challenge, and yeah we get this far in the playoffs, they're all gonna be tough.'
Turner has officially been declared a missing person
Turner vanished on November 20, leaving assistant coach Jay Edward to take over coaching duties for last Saturday's November 22 Graham game and as the season comes to an end.
Despite Turner's disappearance, the Union Bears won the game against Graham 12-0. The victory pushed their record to 11-0 for the season.
The Bears will host Ridgeview for the Region 2D title game on Saturday.
Since taking over at Union in 2011, Turner has twice been honored as Southwest Virginia Coach of the Year as his Bears established themselves as a regional power.
