Virginia school board meets after coach goes missing amid charges: report

Virginia public school officials gathered for a contentious first meeting after Union High School football coach Travis Turner disappeared during an investigation into alleged child pornography.

The Wise County School Board held a meeting Monday, nearly three weeks after Turner, 46, was seen walking into the woods near his Appalachia home on Nov. 20 as authorities went to question him about the investigation. accordingly WCYB.

The public comment portion of the meeting was reportedly removed from the agenda, angering parents who said they were concerned about the lack of communication with school officials.

However, Board Chairman Larry Grear insisted that the dismissal resulted from a closed session on employment, WCYB reported.

FAMILY says fugitive football coach lost in forest with gun

“We decided not to make it clear tonight,” Grear said.

Grear reportedly pushed back against criticism that suggested the students’ families were disturbed by what they believed was an issue with transparency regarding the investigation into Turner.

“Our main focus is the kids, we want to keep them as normal as possible,” Grear said, according to WCYB. “We have the resources, we have consulting services available on top of what they normally have at that site.”

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Virginia State Police began searching for Union High football coach Travis Turner, whose disappearance stunned the Big Stone Gap community. (Virginia State Police)

Public comment will come into play again at the board meeting on Jan. 12, 2026, and parents will tell WCYB they plan to speak directly with officials after that date.

The update comes as a Wise County judge ordered all court documents related to Turner’s case sealed Wednesday on WCYB. reported.

In the days following Turner’s disappearance, the football coach, who disappeared during a then-undefeated season, was placed on “paid administrative leave” pending an investigation of an outside allegation, according to an earlier statement from Wise County Schools.

MISSING COACH TRAVIS TURNER WAS LEFT WITH NECESSARY ITEMS WHEN FAMILY CAUGHT HIM TO FACE CHILD PORN CHARGES: LAWYER

Travis Turner was leading the Union High School football team to an undefeated season when he disappeared from his family’s home in Appalachia, Virginia, on Thursday, November 20, 2025. (Facebook/Leslie Caudill Turner)

Authorities later announced that Turner was charged with five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to molest a minor. The district later issued an updated statement acknowledging criminal charges had been filed against the staff member in question, but avoided mentioning Turner by name.

“The individual is on leave and is not allowed on school property or to have contact with students,” Superintendent Mike Goforth said at the time. “The department will continue to cooperate with law enforcement as this process moves forward. Because this is an active legal matter involving staff, the department cannot comment further.”

Turner’s personnel profile page was also removed from Union High School’s website in the days after the investigation was announced, ABC 7 reports. reported.

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Turner’s family has since made an emotional appeal for him to return home and face the charges, while the family’s home has been subject to numerous searches by authorities, his lawyers said in a statement.

“Travis Turner’s family continues to cooperate with law enforcement to locate Travis. Their home and property were searched multiple times with their consent,” the family’s attorney, Adrian Collins, said in a statement obtained by Fox News Digital. he said.

Collins confirmed that Turner was last seen with a gun walking into the woods near his family’s home; which is something Turner has done “many times over the years.”

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Turner’s wife, Leslie Caudill Turner, became increasingly concerned about her husband’s whereabouts when she noticed he had left without his car, wallet, keys, glasses or contact lenses, cash, and prescription medications. When he did not return home, Caudill Turner filed a missing person report with the Virginia State Police (VSP).

The report sparked a massive manhunt for the ram, as authorities used drones, K-9 units and foot patrols to find him.

The family’s lawyer stated that criminal charges were not filed “until days after he failed to return home.”

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“He was neither a fugitive nor wanted by law enforcement at the time of his disappearance. His wife was not helping him escape, she was asking for help finding him,” Collins said.

The U.S. Marshals Service (USMS) announced that it is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for any information leading to his arrest.

Turner was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt and sweatpants, according to Virginia’s missing persons database. Tips can be reported to 911, Virginia State Police or the USMS tip line at 1-877-WANTED2 or online. usmarshals.gov/tips.

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Wise County School Board, VSP and USMS did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment. As the search for Turner enters its third week, his family continues to beg the football coach to return home.

“If Travis has the talent and can respond to his family’s wishes, your wife and children are in trouble,” Collins said. “Leslie is begging you to come home and face the allegations by defending yourself in court. Don’t leave your family to fight this battle without you. They love you and miss you. They want you to know they are your support.”