Photo: Nicole Mastrogiannis
Travis Turner, the missing Virginia High School football coach accused of child porn and soliciting a minor, was on paid leave days after fleeing from police.
Turner, 46, was on "paid administrative leave" as of Monday (November 24), which was at least four days after he disappeared when police were on the way to his home to question him over accusations that he possessed child porn and attempted to have sex with a minor. Officials at Wise County Public Schools, which oversees Union High School, previously revealed that a district employee had been placed on administrative leave, but authorities nor the school would confirmed whether Turner was the employee in question at the time.
The Union High School football coach is now wanted for five counts of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor after 10 warrants were issued for his arrest late Monday.
“Police are actively searching for Turner,” Virginia State Police said in their update on Tuesday, though not elaborating on the exact nature of the allegations at the time via the New York Post.
Turner was listed as a missing person on the Virginia State Police database last week, having suddenly disappeared amid an undefeated football season. Police had previously said they were heading to the coach's home in the "early stages of an investigation" at the time of his disappearance.
“This was part of the investigation, and not to arrest him. While in transit, the agents were informed that Turner was no longer at the location,” police said.
Turner's wife had previously said that her husband was missing "and that's all we know" in a since-deleted Facebook post obtained by WJHL.
“We love him and need him here with us,” she wrote at the time. “Just keep praying that he comes home.”