US Marshals have offered a $5,000 reward for information that leads to the arrest of missing high school football coach Travis Turner, who is wanted on child pornography charges.
The US Marshals Service has urged the public to report any tips on the married father from Big Stone Gap, Virginia, to 911, State Police, or the USMS tips line at 1-877-WANTED2.
Turner was last seen Nov. 20 walking into the woods with a firearm, according to the family’s attorney, Adrian Collins.
The family is praying that Turner is safe and will have the opportunity to defend himself in a court of law, Collins said.
Turner’s wife of 25 years, Leslie Caudill, scrubbed her social media presence in the wake of the arrest warrant for her husband.
He is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor. Additional charges are pending, according to police.
“VSP is still searching for Turner with the assistance of the FBI and U.S. Marshals Service,” VSP spokesperson Robin Lawson said on Monday.
Turner is no longer listed as a staff member on the website of Union High School, where he was leading the football team to an undefeated season when he disappeared.
Authorities have warned he may be armed and urged caution before approaching him.
Turner’s disappearance was first cast as a simple missing person’s case, before state police announced they had arrest warrants for the 46-year-old last week.
Police and school officials have so far declined to say whether any of the victims or complaining witnesses have any connection to Union High, a public school with about 600 students in the rural Appalachian southwest corner of Virginia.
Since he went missing, Turner’s football team has won two playoff games, including a 21-14 victory over Ridgeview on Saturday.
The school is set to play Glenvar High School on Saturday in the Class 2 state semifinals.
