New disturbing details have emerged about the disappearance of a Virginia high school football coach who vanished just hours before police arrived to question him about child sex offences.
The Disappearance
Travis Turner, 46, armed himself with a firearm before walking into heavily wooded mountainous terrain near his Appalachia home on Thursday, November 20, according to a statement released by his family's attorney.
The football coach's final movements occurred before authorities had issued warrants for his arrest on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor.
Family Response and Police Interaction
When Turner failed to return home that evening, his wife Leslie immediately contacted local law enforcement. She was reportedly advised that a missing-person report couldn't be filed until at least 24 hours had passed since his disappearance.
The following day, she officially filed a missing-person report with the Virginia State Police. The family attorney, Adrian Collins, stated that the Turner family has "cooperated fully with law-enforcement in their ongoing efforts to locate Travis."
Family members and friends have conducted their own search operations in the surrounding woods, though these efforts have been hampered by difficult weather conditions and the need to coordinate with official search operations.
Ongoing Investigation
The massive manhunt for Turner continues across Virginia nearly a week after his disappearance. Authorities have confirmed that the warrants for his arrest were issued after he had already vanished into the Appalachian wilderness.
Meanwhile, Turner's wife has publicly called for prayers to find her husband, describing him as a "good dad and a good husband" despite the serious charges now filed against him.
The case has drawn significant attention due to Turner's position as a high school football coach and the disturbing nature of the charges combined with his armed disappearance.
