He was a revered small-town soccer scion twice named “Coach of the Yr” and anticipated to shepherd his undefeated varsity squad by means of an important playoff recreation Saturday.
Now, he’s a fugitive on the middle of a frantic manhunt, wished on baby porn and solicitation of a minor fees.
The beautiful case has upended the quintessentially all-American lifetime of Travis Turner after he bolted from his dwelling in rural Appalachia, Va., final week as cops closed in to debate the disturbing allegations towards him.
The 46-year-old dad of three has spent greater than a decade teaching at Union Excessive Faculty in Large Stone Hole, a rural, “Friday Evening Lights”-esque group the place the gridiron’s so sizzling, it’s despatched a number of gamers on to the NFL.
Turner joined the workforce in 2011 and has led his gamers to quite a few victories and championships since, incomes himself a status as a coolheaded chief adept at inspiring the very best from his gamers alongside the best way.
He was named “Coach of the Yr” by the Herald Courier in 2021, with a glowing profile describing him as an impassive and “unflappable” chief with “laser-like focus” in “a group the place soccer is king.”
The coach has additionally spent his life on the middle of the group’s wealthy soccer scene. His personal father, Tom, was a neighborhood soccer star in his day who went on to change into an award-winning coach in the identical group his son would later lead.
Turner even starred on his father’s workforce, taking part in as quarterback from 1994 and occurring to play for 3 universities throughout the south, in keeping with the Courier.
“Teaching – and profitable – is in Travis Turner’s blood,” the Courier wrote, noting that he was even named “Coach of the Yr” in 2006 as a softball coach.
Nevertheless it all got here crashing down Thursday night time — when cops arrived at Turner’s dwelling close to the top of a cul-de-sac within the tiny city of about 1,200 to speak to debate severe prison allegations towards him. They insisted they weren’t there to arrest him.
Turner, they had been informed en route, was nowhere to be discovered. He has not been heard from since, prompting investigators to launch a multi-agency manhunt, involving drones, state police aviation, Ok-9s and bloodhounds.
On Tuesday, Virginia State Police revealed they issued a warrant for the married dad’s arrest on 5 counts of possession of kid pornography and 5 counts of utilizing a pc to solicit a minor. Cops stated further fees are pending and that Turner is now “thought of a fugitive.”
Union Excessive, in the meantime, which has about 600 college students enrolled, has been mum, solely to say vaguely that an worker throughout the district had been positioned on administrative depart.
“A workers member has been positioned on administrative depart with pay whereas an exterior company critiques an allegation that was reported to the division,” the district stated in an announcement with out elaborating additional.
“That is commonplace process and never a dedication of wrongdoing. This case additionally includes an energetic law-enforcement matter, and the division can not remark additional.”
Neither they nor cops would establish the individual, together with whether or not it was Turner or if the 2 instances had been linked.
Turner’s spouse of 25 years, Leslie — whose Fb web page is stuffed with pictures of her hubby and son on the gridiron — denied the allegations of sexual misconduct, telling the Day by day Mail “none of that’s true.”
“He’s a great dad and a great husband and we would like him dwelling. That’s it,” added Leslie, who donned a “Coach’s spouse” tank prime alongside her hubby in a single Fb pic. “We’re all simply hanging in there till we get information.”
On Friday, she posted after which deleted a message that stated: “I simply wished to get on right here for a second to clear up one thing, as of proper now, 10:25 PM on Friday night time, Travis is lacking, & that’s all we all know.”
The Union Bears, which went 12-0 this season, are set to compete within the area closing Saturday — with the winner transferring onto the state semifinals on Dec. 6.
5 days earlier than he vanished, Turner appeared upbeat — with hardly a clue that he might have been battling darkish demons.
“It’s going to be a battle right here … and our children be prepared,” Turner stated informed the Union Sports activities Community on Nov. 15.
Social media, in the meantime, has been abuzz with the beautiful information.
“Our group is hurting proper now. Many people grew up with Travis Turner as a coach, a mentor, or a well-known face in school occasions,” one former Union Excessive scholar wrote.
“What has lately occurred is devastating and has broke the belief we had in somebody who held a place of accountability and affect,” the previous scholar added.
Some stated that “lots of people knew” in regards to the allegations for years — and in addition that there have been additionally “rumors” of “others” concerned, numerous feedback throughout native social media present.
It stays unclear what number of victims are concerned within the allegations towards Turner.
The college’s assistant coach, Jay Edwards, has since stepped in to deal with all teaching duties because the missing-person probe continues.
In an older interview, Turner credited his assistant coaches and his younger athletes with constructing Union’s soccer program “from the bottom up” after it consolidated with one other college.
The coach additionally gave a nod to his tight-knit group.
“The assist we’ve is unbelievable,” Turner stated. “You drive by means of Large Stone Hole or Appalachia, there are flags and banners hanging up. Individuals actually assist the sports activities applications at our faculty and our children take pleasure in that. They carry that to the soccer discipline they usually wish to symbolize the college and themselves in a optimistic approach.”
