Disgraced high school football coach Travis Turner went missing in Virginia on the Thursday before Thanksgiving. He still has not been found.
This could mean one of a few things.
It seems unlikely that the former high school football coach survived the winter in the hills of Appalachia, which would mean he cannot be brought to justice. He can only be forced to face the consequences of his alleged criminal behavior if he was somehow able to remain undetected for the last four months.
Travis Turner is a wanted man.
Turner, 46, led Union High School in Big Stone Gap, Virginia to an undefeated regular season. The Bears defeated their opponents by a combined score of 467-97 to earn the No. 1-seed in the Class 2A playoffs.
They won their first round matchup at the beginning of November.
And then the head coach suddenly went missing. Details were sparse at first. The community gathered to pray for his safe return. The team had to keep playing without him.
It later came out that Travis Turner was wanted by police. Officers were on the way to his house just a few moments before he disappeared on Nov. 20. 10 different warrants are currently out for his arrest.
He is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor. The criminal investigation remains active and additional charges are pending but 121 days have passed and Turner is still missing. He cannot be arrested if he is never found. The search continues.
Virginia state police are still searching for the missing high school football coach.
There have not been any credible sightings of Turner to date but the authorities believe he is out there.
“This case is worked on every day. It’s two-fold: we have the criminal investigation and the search,” said the Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation. “Every single lead has been vetted and followed up on, and all have been unfounded. We need the public to continue providing information. Someone knows something that will lead to his whereabouts.”
There are 27 combined personnel dedicated only to the Turner case. Virginia State Police is being assisted by the U.S. Marshals Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and the Black Diamond Search and Rescue team. Together, they have responded to more than 178 national and international leads across seven states. All of the tips have been unfounded thus far.
This is where things get grim.
Travis Turner knew that his days were numbered when he left home and his family said that he took a gun with him when he wondered off into the woods. He either got out of the state and maybe even out of the country or he is dead. I would guess it is the latter. His body was eaten by local wildlife or is no longer traceable by thermal camera because it sat out in the cold all winter.
We don’t know where Turner or his body might be and neither does law enforcement.
Virginia State Police are asking anyone who may have information on the whereabouts of Turner to please contact Virginia State Police Division 4 at 276-484-9483 or email questions@vsp.virginia.gov. You may also report information to the U.S. Marshals at 1-877-WANTED2 (926-8332). The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information that leads to his capture.
Union High School is moving on.
Even if Travis Turner is found alive, the allegations against him do not bode well for his future. He will spend many years behind bars if a judge rules that he is guilty.
Knowing it can no longer wait for his return, Union High School finally removed him from his role in February. The administration officially announced his replacement earlier this month.
Jamie Harless was named as Turner’s successor.
“Union High School is proud to announce the appointment of Jamie Harless as the next head football coach of the Union Bears. Harless joins Union High School after a stellar 14-season tenure at Lord Botetourt High School, where he transformed the program into a perennial state power. Coach Harless arrives in Big Stone Gap with an impressive resume, boasting 134 career victories at Lord Botetourt. During his time in Daleville, he led the Cavaliers to: Four Regional Titles and three State Runner-up finishes. 100+ wins, becoming the first coach in Lord Botetourt history to reach that milestone.”
The Bears reached the state semifinal in 2025 so there is a strong foundation on which to build and Harless will be expected to continue with the success. He must also gain the trust of the players. That won’t be easy after they were burned by the alleged fugitive in November. The search continues.