Union High School football coach Travis Turner went missing in November 2025 as his undefeated team pursued the state championships.
Within the wake of his disappearance, news broke that the highschool football coach left his home as officers of Virginia’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation were en route to talk to him about child pornography allegations. His family said that Turner was last seen alive with a firearm while heading towards a wooded area near his house.
“We remain prayerful for his protected return and for everybody affected by the circumstances surrounding his disappearance,” Turner family attorney Adrian Collins said in an announcement on the family’s behalf on November 26, 2025. “We trust God to bring truth and clarity in His time. Any allegations needs to be addressed through the right legal process — not through speculation or rumor.”
Turner’s disappearance — and the allegations levied against him — rocked the close knit community of Big Stone Gap, Virginia, where the Union High School football team were forced to press on with the postseason without their coach.
Keep scrolling for a timeline of key dates surrounding Turner’s disappearance.
November 20, 2025
Travis Turner was last seen by his family.
Based on multiple media reports, Virginia’s Bureau of Criminal Investigation officers were sent to talk to Turner at his home about an open child pornography investigation, though he was not present after they arrived. Virginia State Police later specified that that they had no plans to arrest Turner during their visit.
November 21, 2025
Clever County Public Schools — the district wherein Turner worked — announced on November 21 that an unnamed staff member was placed on administrative leave.
“Presently, a staff member has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an external agency reviews an allegation that was reported to us,” Clever County Public Schools said in an announcement. “That is standard procedure and never a determination of wrongdoing. The division cannot comment further.”
November 22, 2025
Turner was officially named an “endangered missing person” by Virginia State Police as search operations commenced.
November 22, 2025
Turner was not in attendance when his Union High School football team defeated Graham High School, 12-0. At the moment, Union High had an ideal 12-0 record.
The college appointed interim head coach Jay Edward to step in for Turner through the game.
“Today is actually in regards to the students here and at Union High School,” Clever County Public Schools superintendent Mike Goforth told News Channel 11. “, I can’t discuss any personnel matters, and I actually think that people have to review the statement that we released yesterday. You may check with the last statement if there’s no further comment at the moment.”
November 24, 2025
Virginia State Police confirmed that an lively search was underway for Turner, after he was last seen on November 20, 2025.
Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Jason Day told News Channel 11 that his team had dispatched K9 units and “drones up within the air looking,” though their efforts were hampered by bad weather. Police focused their search on “the woods right near the overall location of his house” as that’s the last place Turner was seen, in accordance with Day.
November 25, 2025
Travis’ wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, wrote that her husband was “missing and that’s all we all know” in a since-deleted Facebook post.
“We love him & need him here with us. Thanks to everyone who has reached out with love & support. It means greater than . Just keep praying that he comes home,” she wrote.
She later deleted her social media entirely.
Travis and Leslie share three children: sons Bailey, 25, and Grayden, 21, and daughter Brynlee, 11.
November 25, 2025
Virginia State Police confirmed that Travis was being investigated on five counts of possession of kid pornography and five counts of using a pc to solicit a minor. A warrant for his arrest was obtained on November 24 and he was labeled a “fugitive” from justice by authorities.
“The Virginia State Police is actively trying to find Turner,” police said in an announcement.
The State Police asked for “the general public’s assist in providing any information which will result in his whereabouts.”
November 26, 2025
Travis’ attorney first addressed allegations that the coach was being investigated for child pornography and solicitation before he disappeared.
“We remain prayerful for his protected return and for everybody affected by the circumstances surrounding his disappearance,” attorney Adrian Collins said in an announcement on the family’s behalf. “We trust God to bring truth and clarity in His time. Any allegations needs to be addressed through the right legal process — not through speculation or rumor.”
Collins concluded, “We ask the general public and media to indicate compassion, accuracy, and respect for the family’s privacy.”
November 28, 2025
Collins disclosed in a brand new statement that Travis “left his residence to walk within the woods with a firearm” after his last known contact along with his family.
“He’s believed to have entered a heavily wooded and mountainous area,” the attorney clarified.
Collins said that the Turner family had “cooperated fully with law enforcement of their ongoing efforts to locate Travis.”
November 29, 2025
The Union High School football team made it to the Virginia High School League Region 2D semifinals after defeating rival Ridgeview High School, 21-14. Edwards once more stepped in for Travis as head coach.
November 30, 2025
Travis’ son Bailey Turner told the Day by day Mail that Union High School’s win was “bittersweet” given his father’s disappearance. Bailey added that his family “appreciated the support” they’ve received from the community.
December 1, 2025
As Virginia authorities continued investigating Travis’ whereabouts, his family announced that they were organizing separate search efforts.
“Relations and friends have also conducted search efforts in the encompassing woods,” Collins, the family’s attorney, said in an announcement. “These efforts have been limited by weather conditions and with respect for the official operations underway.”
The lawyer went on, “It’s the family’s prayer that Travis is protected and may have the chance to defend himself in a court of law.”
December 1, 2025
John Miller, CNN’s chief law enforcement and intelligence analyst, offered theories on why police weren’t in a position to locate Travis nearly two weeks after his disappearance. He explained that police may have to make use of motion sensors that send signals back to the search team’s base, and even drones with heat-sensing abilities that may track a person’s movement.
Eddie Blair, the husband of a former highschool classmate of Travis’, told The Athletic that it might be especially difficult for authorities to search out the coach since he knew the wooded Appalachian area “higher than most individuals.”
December 1, 2025
The US Marshals Service announced a reward of as much as $5,000 for any information that results in Travis’ whereabouts. Individuals with any relevant suggestions were asked to call 911 or the Virginia State Police, or visit usmarshals.gov/suggestions.
The U.S. Marshalls encouraged the general public to “use caution” in the event that they spot Travis because he “could also be armed.”
The reward was issued after the Marshals met with members of the Virginia State Police on December 1 at Appalachia High School, Travis’ alma mater. Dr. Ken Lang, a former detective and head of Milligan University’s criminal justice program, offered an evidence to News Channel 11 about why the Marshals joined the investigation.
“If the FBI recognizes that an area agency doesn’t necessarily have the resources that [are] available to the FBI or other federal agencies, then they’ll are available in and infrequently offer their help and assistance in loaning that equipment or helping them facilitate the function of finding this person,” Lang noted.
December 3, 2025
The Virginia State Police offered an update on the seek for Travis nearly two weeks after he went missing.
“The search stays lively and ongoing with the help of the US Marshals Service and FBI,” a spokesperson told Us Weekly. “We’re still asking for the general public’s assistance in providing any information which will result in Turner’s whereabouts.”
The police said that they were “following up on all suggestions received” for the reason that U.S. Marshalls offered a reward.
December 3, 2025
Bobby Taghavi, a veteran prosecutor, shared insight with the Day by day Mail about what punishment Travis could face if he’s found alive and convicted of kid pornography and solicitation charges. The prosecutor suggested Travis could receive “a more serious sentence” of between 5 to 30 years in prison. (Taghavi isn’t involved within the Turner case.)
Travis can be forced to register as a sex offender if convicted, meaning that he could now not work as a coach or physical education teacher.
“Someone like Travis Turner [if he is guilty] is sitting ready where his life as he knows it’s, for all intents and purposes, over,” Taghavi said. “He’ll now not be a coach, he’ll now not be a teacher, he’s probably going to have numerous issues inside his family and throughout the community, especially if you’re living in a small community with someone who’s high-profile like him.”
December 4, 2025
The Turner family’s attorney told Us that their “last contact with Travis causes them to have great concern for his well-being.”
“Travis’ automotive and keys were left at home,” his attorney said. “Travis wore contact lenses by day and glasses within the evenings. Travis’ contact lens supplies and glasses were left at home. Travis’ wallet, license, money, and all its contents were left in the house.”
The family revealed that Travis was “prescribed certain each day medication,” which was also left at home.
“It isn’t like Travis to vanish or steer clear of home,” they said.
December 3, 2025
Criminologist Dr. Alex del Carmen speculated that Travis can have left the country or could have received help from others in evading justice. (Dr. Carmen isn’t directly involved within the case.)
“There’s all the time the varsity of thought that we assume there may very well be people helping him be in a special place,” Dr. Carmen told WCYB-News 5. “He would have had a special haircut, possibly even a special identity somewhere. Left the country, that’s the opposite possibility.”
Dr. Carmen acknowledged that there’s “all the time the truth” that Travis can have died by suicide.
“Based on all of those possibilities, we cannot discard one or the opposite,” Dr. Carmen said.
December 4, 2025
Travis’ wife Leslie denied any suggestion that she helped him escape from justice on November 20, 2025.
“Criminal charges weren’t obtained against Travis until days after he didn’t return home,” the Turner family attorney said. “He was not a fugitive nor wanted by law enforcement on the time he went missing. His wife was not helping him escape, she was asking for help to search out him.”
Their lawyer said that the Turner family “continues to cooperate with law enforcement efforts to locate Travis.”
“Their homes and properties have been searched multiple times, with their consent,” they added.
The Union High School community has reacted after the varsity’s longtime football coach, Travis Turner, went missing amid charges of kid pornography and soliciting a minor. Turner, 46, disappeared on Thursday, November 20, as his undefeated Union High football team was making a run within the state playoffs. “It was a shock to us,” Katherine […]
The family’s lawyer addressed why Leslie didn’t immediately contact authorities when her husband left home.
“This was something he had done multiple times throughout the years,” their rep explained. “When [Travis] didn’t return to his home that evening, his wife, out of concern, asked for assistance from law enforcement. As directed, she filed a missing person report the next day with the Virginia State Police.”
December 5, 2025
WJHL reporter Belle Johnson reported that she spoke with interim Union High School football coach Jay Edwards in regards to the mood at college following the team’s victory over Ridgeview High School on November 29.
“He said they’ve had student leaders step up to only sort of guide the younger [students] along,” Johnson reported. “They’ve been telling [Jay], ‘Don’t hearken to the surface influence without delay.’”
Edwards previously offered a comment in regards to the team’s undefeated record on November 29, simply telling reporters: “The children are the important thing to all the pieces.”
December 6, 2025
The Union High School football team’s undefeated season got here to an end after they lost to Glenvar High School, 21-20, within the Virginia High School League Class 2 semifinals.
December 6, 2025
Law enforcement veteran and criminology professor Dr. Ken Lang — who isn’t directly connected to the case — told the Day by day Mail that the seek for Travis was “like searching for a needle within the haystack” attributable to the rugged terrain of the Appalachian Mountains, where the coach supposedly disappeared.
“That’s a reasonably distant, densely wooded area,” Dr. Lang said. “We’re within the cold time of the yr, and so at night, if we’re searching for any individual, we’d send helicopters up and use Forward-Looking Infrared [FLIR] to search for body heat.”
The criminology professor acknowledged that it’s “hard to discern” whether those sensors detect an individual or, for instance, a “deer that has bedded down for the night or other animals.”
December 8, 2025
WCYB-5 News reported on a “tense” meeting of the Clever County School Board, where chair Larry Greear announced that he wouldn’t allow “open expression” from the general public. The local station said parents were “aggravated and anxious about what they are saying is an absence of communication from the varsity board.”
“Our predominant focus is the children, we would like to maintain them as normal as possible,” Greear explained. “We’ve got resources, we’ve counseling services available along with what they ordinarily have at that individual site.”
Greear promised that public comment can be reinstated on the Clever County School Board’s next meeting, which is ready for January 12.
December 10, 2025
Clever County, Virginia’s Clerk of Circuit Court told WCYB-5 News that a Circuit Court Judge officially sealed all documents related to the investigation.