Coach Vanishes Amidst Child Porn Allegations

Union High School football coach Travis Turner disappeared in November 2025 while his team was in pursuit of state championships. News emerged that Turner went missing as Virginia Bureau of Criminal Investigation officers were en route to question him about child pornography allegations. His family reported him last seen alive, armed, and heading toward a wooded area near his residence.

Authorities officially designated Turner as an endangered missing person, launching an active search that included K9 units and drones, though weather conditions impeded efforts. An arrest warrant was subsequently obtained for five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor, labeling him a fugitive. The U.S. Marshals Service offered a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to his whereabouts.

The disappearance cast a shadow over Big Stone Gap, Virginia, impacting the Union High School football team, who continued their postseason play with an interim coach. Despite extensive searches and public appeals for information, Turner's whereabouts remained unknown as of December 11, 2025, with various theories circulating, including evasion or suicide.