Virginia High School Football Coach Disappears During Perfect Season
A Virginia high school football coach has vanished just as his team competes for a state championship, triggering a widespread search by local authorities.
Travis Turner, the head coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, has been unaccounted for since Thursday, November 20.
According to the Virginia State Police, agents from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation were sent to Turner’s residence on Thursday, but were informed while en route that he was not at home.
Officials were eager to speak with the 46-year-old Turner during the preliminary phases of an investigation concerning an unidentified man in Wise County, where Turner resides. Police clarified that their visit was not intended to arrest him.
Details regarding the investigation remain unclear.
On Friday, November 21, Wise County Schools announced that an unidentified staff member had been placed on administrative leave.
“Currently, a staff member is on paid administrative leave while an external agency reviews a reported allegation,” the statement explained. “This is a routine procedure and does not imply wrongdoing. The division is unable to provide further comments.”
Virginia State Police confirmed that a thorough search for Turner is actively ongoing, having commenced on Friday.
“We classified him as an endangered missing person and began our search efforts,” stated Virginia State Police 1st Sgt. Jason Day in an interview with News Channel 11 on Saturday, November 22.
Day added, “We have deployed drones for aerial searches, alongside local K-9 units.”
Due to poor weather conditions that hindered the use of state aviation, a helicopter was brought in to search a wooded area adjacent to Turner’s home on Saturday.
“He had ventured into the woods close to his home’s general location, which is where we have concentrated our search,” Day noted.
Turner was absent during Union High School’s playoff game against Graham, which resulted in a 12-0 win. Union is currently undefeated with a record of 12-0.
Superintendent of Wise County Public Schools, Mike Goforth, informed News Channel 11 that Jay Edwards will assume interim coaching responsibilities during Turner’s absence.
“Today is primarily focused on the students here at Union High School,” Goforth told the outlet. “I cannot comment on personnel issues, and I encourage everyone to review our previously issued statement if there are no further comments at this time.”
Union is scheduled to compete against Ridgeview High School in the regional state semifinals on Saturday, November 29.
Turner has been the head coach at Union High School since 2011.
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As reported by ABC 33/40, Turner’s wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, commented on her husband’s disappearance in a now-deleted Facebook post.
Leslie mentioned that Travis was “missing, and that’s all we know.”
Travis spoke to a local reporter after Union’s triumph over Lee High School in the regional state quarterfinals on November 15, just days before his mysterious disappearance.
“I felt we adjusted well to their offensive tactics,” Travis remarked. “Our kids adapted well. It’s a different experience playing on a Saturday for the first time.”
