The players of Union High School’s football team are grappling with a crisis that extends far beyond the gridiron, speaking publicly for the first time since the shocking disappearance of their head coach, who is now a wanted fugitive. As the team prepares for the Virginia state regional finals with a perfect 12-0 record, their focus is fractured by the absence of Travis Turner, 46, who vanished last week just as law enforcement arrived to arrest him.
Authorities revealed that Turner is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor. The Virginia State Police have classified him as a fugitive and are actively searching for him. The criminal investigation was set into motion last Thursday, when agents from the Bureau of Criminal Investigation, while en route to his home, were informed that Turner was no longer at the residence.
Amid this turmoil, the Union Bears were forced to take the field without their leader for a critical semifinal game against Graham High School, which they won 12-0. The players displayed a resilience that belied the chaos surrounding them. Senior running back Keith Chandler described the team’s mindset, stating they huddled together and acknowledged the need to handle adversity as brothers. His teammate, senior tight end Carlos Anderson, affirmed the team’s readiness, emphasizing that their preparation since summer would carry them through.
The Wise County Public School District had placed an unnamed staff member on paid administrative leave prior to the game, a move they stated is standard procedure and not an indication of wrongdoing. Meanwhile, Turner’s wife, Leslie, made a public plea on social media before deleting the post, expressing that her husband was missing and asking for prayers for his safe return. The team now moves forward under interim head coach Jay Edwards, aiming to secure a championship in a season forever marred by scandal.
