Virginia State Police
NEED TO KNOW
- Parents at a Virginia high school are criticizing school officials who they claim swept allegations against a missing football coach "under the rug" for several years
- Travis Turner has been missing since Nov. 20, 2025, days before Virginia State Police filed 10 charges accusing him of the possession of child pornography and using a computer to solicit a minor
- Turner's family has pleaded with the 46-year-old coach to return home and face the charges
As the search for missing Virginia high school football coach Travis Turner nears its third month, parents at his former Union High School are demanding answers from school district officials they claim have been sweeping allegations against him “under the rug” for “years.”
Turner, 46, was last seen on Nov. 20, 2025, days before local authorities officially filed child pornography charges against him. The high school football coach’s disappearance came amid the Union High School team's undefeated season, first turning heads before the criminal charges were then announced against him, drawing outrage from school parents.
Local outlet WJHL reported that a third meeting between parents and officials with the Wise County Board of Education took place on Tuesday, Feb. 10, as disgruntled parents at the school grilled its officials over what they claim was a lack of transparency regarding Turner’s alleged crimes.
Wise County parent Stephen Murray told WJHL he and other parents wanted to continue to apply “pressure” on the school district to answer for Turner’s alleged crimes, claiming officials have known about the allegations for “years.”
“I just want to make sure that no one thinks that we’re going to sweep this under the rug like it has been for so many years,” Murray told the outlet. “I just want to keep reminding the citizens of this county that there’s been a lot of abuse and we just need to keep shining a spotlight on it until something changes.”
The outlet reported that three parents accused local school officials of a “lack of transparency” regarding the accused ex-football coach.
“I think it’s vital now more than ever that they actually understand that a community is hurting and a community does want change,” Murray also told WJHL. “So, I do hope they’re listening. I think this is just the beginning, and the school board should, you know, get used to seeing these faces and hopefully more and more people show up.”
The Wise County Board of Education did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment.
WJHL/YouTube
Turner’s wife reported him missing to Virginia State Police on Nov. 21, telling authorities she last saw him a day earlier walking into the woods with a firearm.
Five days after Turner’s disappearance, Virginia State Police announced 10 charges against the coach, accusing him of possession of child pornography and using a computer to solicit a minor.
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An attorney for Turner’s wife, Leslie Turner, previously told PEOPLE “it is not like Travis to disappear or stay away from home.” The attorney, who said Leslie did not assist her husband in escaping police, said Turner’s family is pleading for him “to come home and face the allegations by defending yourself in a court of law.”
PEOPLE reached out to the Virginia State Police for an update on the investigation into Turner’s whereabouts but did not receive a response Wednesday.
Read the original article on People