How Travis Turner, coach at center of child porn probe, went from all-American football scion to fugitive from justice

He was a revered small-town football scion twice named “Coach of the Year” and expected to shepherd his undefeated varsity squad through a crucial playoff game Saturday.

Now, he’s a fugitive at the center of a frantic manhunt, wanted on child porn and solicitation of a minor charges.

The stunning case has upended the quintessentially all-American life of Travis Turner after he bolted from his home in rural Appalachia, Va., last week as cops closed in to discuss the disturbing allegations against him.

Travis Turner, 46, has been a revered high school coach in his Virginia town where football is a pillar of the community. Facebook/Leslie Turner

The 46-year-old dad of three has spent more than a decade coaching at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, a rural, “Friday Night Lights”-esque community where the gridiron’s so hot, it’s sent several players on to the NFL.

Turner joined the team in 2011 and has led his players to numerous victories and championships since, earning himself a reputation as a coolheaded leader adept at inspiring the best from his players along the way.

He was named “Coach of the Year” by the Herald Courier in 2021, with a glowing profile describing him as an emotionless and “unflappable” leader with “laser-like focus” in “a community where football is king.”

The coach has also spent his life at the center of the community’s rich football scene. His own father, Tom, was a local football star in his day who went on to become an award-winning coach in the same community his son would later lead.

Turner even starred on his father’s team, playing as quarterback from 1994 and going on to play for three universities across the south, according to the Courier.

“Coaching – and winning – is in Travis Turner’s blood,” the Courier wrote, noting that he was even named “Coach of the Year” in 2006 as a softball coach.

Turner and his wife have been married for nearly 25 years. She denied the allegations against him. Facebook/Leslie Turner

But it all came crashing down Thursday night — when cops arrived at Turner’s home near the end of a cul-de-sac in the tiny town of about 1,200 to talk to discuss serious criminal allegations against him. They insisted they were not there to arrest him.

Turner, they were told en route, was nowhere to be found. He has not been heard from since, prompting investigators to launch a multi-agency manhunt, involving drones, state police aviation, K-9s and bloodhounds.

On Tuesday, Virginia State Police revealed they issued a warrant for the married dad’s arrest on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor. Cops said additional charges are pending and that Turner is now “considered a fugitive.”

Union High, meanwhile, which has about 600 students enrolled, has been mum, only to say vaguely that an employee within the district had been placed on administrative leave.

“A staff member has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an external agency reviews an allegation that was reported to the division,” the district said in a statement without elaborating further.

“This is standard procedure and not a determination of wrongdoing. This situation also involves an active law-enforcement matter, and the division cannot comment further.”

Neither they nor cops would identify the person, including whether it was Turner or if the two cases were connected.

Turner and his wife Leslie have three kids, and photos from social media paint the picture of a perfect American family. Facebook/Leslie Turner

Turner’s wife of 25 years, Leslie — whose Facebook page is filled with photos of her hubby and son on the gridiron — denied the allegations of sexual misconduct, telling the Daily Mail “none of that is true.”

“He’s a good dad and a good husband and we want him home. That’s it,” added Leslie, who donned a “Coach’s wife” tank top alongside her hubby in one Facebook pic. “We are all just hanging in there until we get news.”

On Friday, she posted and then deleted a message that said: “I just wanted to get on here for a second to clear up something, as of right now, 10:25 PM on Friday night, Travis is missing, & that’s all we know.”

The Union Bears, which went 12-0 this season, are set to compete in the region final Saturday — with the winner moving onto the state semifinals on Dec. 6.

Five days before he vanished, Turner seemed upbeat — with hardly a clue that he may have been battling dark demons.

“It’s going to be a battle here … and our kids be ready,” Turner said told the Union Sports Network on Nov. 15.

Social media, meanwhile, has been abuzz with the stunning news.

Turner, seen here with his wife Leslie, hasn’t been seen since Thursday, and is now wanted on child porn charges, police said. Facebook/Leslie Turner

“Our community is hurting right now. Many of us grew up with Travis Turner as a coach, a mentor, or a familiar face at school events,” one former Union High student wrote.

“What has recently happened is devastating and has broke the trust we had in someone who held a position of responsibility and influence,” the former student added.

Some said that “a lot of people knew” about the allegations for years — and also that there were also “rumors” of “others” involved, various comments across local social media show.

It remains unclear how many victims are involved in the allegations against Turner.

The school’s assistant coach, Jay Edwards, has since stepped in to handle all coaching responsibilities as the missing-person probe continues.

In an older interview, Turner credited his assistant coaches and his young athletes with building Union’s football program “from the ground up” after it consolidated with another school.

The coach also gave a nod to his tight-knit community.

“The support we have is unbelievable,” Turner said. “You drive through Big Stone Gap or Appalachia, there are flags and banners hanging up. People really support the sports programs at our school and our kids take pride in that. They carry that to the football field and they want to represent the school and themselves in a positive way.”