VA Football Coach Missing Amid Investigation, Team's Undefeated Season: Reports

UPDATE: Missing VA Football Coach Now Wanted On Child Porn, Solicitation Charges

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WISE COUNTY, VA — A high school football coach in Virginia has disappeared amid an investigation, even as his team nears an undefeated season, according to reports.

Travis Lee Turner has been missing since Thursday from Wise County, per the Virginia State Police. Turner is a physical education teacher and the head football coach at Union High School in Big Stone Gap, as well as the boys track coach.

State police agents were sent to Turner’s home Thursday in the town of Appalachia as part of an investigation, but not aiming to arrest him, NBC News reported, adding that on their way there, the agents learned he was no longer at the residence.

He was last seen entering the woods near his home, according to Sports Illustrated.

Search teams were looking for him with dogs and drones, focusing on the area of Appalachia, NBC News reported.

Turner is 6 feet, 3 inches tall, weighs 260 pounds and was last seen wearing a gray sweatshirt, sweatpants and glasses, according to police.

On Friday, school officials in Wise County confirmed an unnamed employee had been put on administrative leave because of an external investigation, Sports Illustrated reported.

Despite Turner’s absence, his team has continued its undefeated season, trouncing Graham 12-0 in its regional semifinal game Saturday and advancing to the regional final, according to Sports Illustrated.