Virginia highschool soccer coach Travis Turner vanished with out his important objects earlier than being pursued on youngster pornography prices — as his household launched a distressing message begging him to face the allegations.
Turner left his automotive, keys, contact lenses and glasses and drugs that he takes each day at his Appalachia dwelling earlier than he was final seen strolling into the woods on Nov. 20, the household’s legal professional, Adrian Collins, mentioned in a press release to WCYB on Wednesday.
“Travis’ pockets, license, money, and all its contents had been left within the dwelling. Travis is prescribed sure each day drugs which he wants, these had been left within the dwelling,” Collins mentioned.
Collins beforehand mentioned that Turner, the widely-celebrated head coach of Union Excessive Faculty in Large Stone Hole, Va., fled into the closely wooded space armed with a firearm.
“This was one thing he had completed a number of occasions all through the years,” Collins mentioned of his walks into the woods.
Turner’s spouse, Leslie Caudill Turner, contacted legislation enforcement when her husband by no means returned after which filed a lacking individual report the following day.
Collins mentioned that the soccer coach was not a fugitive on the time he went lacking since police had not but charged him with any crime till days after he vanished.
He additionally shot down the concept Caudill Turner performed a task in Turner’s disappearance.
“His spouse was not serving to him escape, she was asking for assist to search out him,” Collins mentioned.
The household’s legal professional revealed his spouse and youngsters are “distressed” by his disappearance and are praying for his secure return.
“Leslie pleads so that you can come dwelling and face the allegations by defending your self in a courtroom of legislation. Don’t depart your loved ones to battle this battle with out you,” Collins mentioned.
“They love and miss you. They need you to know they’re your help.”
Turner’s disappearance was first solid as a easy lacking individual’s case earlier than state police introduced that the 46-year-old married father is needed for 5 counts of kid pornography and one other 5 of utilizing a pc to solicit a minor.
“VSP remains to be looking for Turner with the help of the FBI and US Marshals Service,” Virginia State Police mentioned.
As their manhunt continues, the US Marshals have supplied a $5,000 reward for data resulting in his arrest.
Leslie Caudill Turner, who has been married to Turner for 25 years, scrubbed her social media presence within the wake of the arrest warrant for her husband.
Authorities have warned he could also be armed and urged warning earlier than approaching him.
After the fees grew to become public, Union Excessive Faculty eliminated him from its employees listing.
Earlier than his disappearance, the pinnacle coach was main the varsity’s soccer crew to an undefeated season.
The crew has received two playoff video games since he vanished, and is now heading to the state semi-finals following a regional championship win on Saturday.