A fugitive Virginia high school football coach reportedly left his essentials at home, and fled without family assistance, days before officials charged with several counts of child sexual abuse.
As CrimeOnline previously reported, Travis Turner, the former head football coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, left into a wooded area near the residence in Appalachia, on November 20.
According to WCYB, the family’s attorney, Adrian Collins, stated that Turner’s wife, Leslie, “was not helping him escape,” and that she is “asking for help to find him.”
Turner fled with a firearm, but without any essentials, including his medication, his family said.
A statement by Collins indicated that Turner had gone into the woods “multiple times throughout the years.” When he didn’t return, his wife contacted police, and has not been aiding him in the escape.
“Criminal charges were not obtained against Travis until days after he failed to return home,” the lawyer noted. “He was not a fugitive wanted by law enforcement at the time he went missing,” the statement, in part, read.
“Leslie pleads for you to come home and face the allegations by defending yourself in a court of law. Don’t leave your family to fight this battle without you. They love and miss you. They want you to know they are your support.”
The U.S. Marshals Service is offering a “reward of up to $5,000 for information” that leads to Turner, who is facing five counts of child pornography possession.
Turner has since been removed from the staff member website at the high school.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is urged to contact Virginia State Police Division 4 at 276-484-9483 or send an email questions@vsp.virginia.gov. Tipsters can remain anonymous.