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Travis Turner update: Wife Leslie Turner denies child pornography allegations: ‘I don’t know…'

The wife of the high-school football coach currently wanted on multiple child-pornography and solicitation charges, has strongly denied allegations

Published on: Nov 26, 2025, 09:19:33 IST
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Travis Turner’s wife has strongly denied allegations of multiple child pornography and solicitation, even as law enforcement agencies intensify a statewide manhunt to locate him.

High school football coach, Travis Turner. (Leslie Turner on Facebook)
High school football coach, Travis Turner. (Leslie Turner on Facebook)

The high-school football coach from Big Stone Gap, Virginia, is currently on the run while the authorities look for him.

Read more: Travis Turner update: Appalachia, Virginia high school coach goes missing

Turner’s wife’s response

“I don’t know anything. I don’t know anything. I’m sorry,” Leslie Turner, 46-year-old wife of Travis, told The Daily Mail on Tuesday following the police's announcement of the concerning accusations against her husband.

Leslie spoke to the media shortly after the charges became public, denied all allegations against her husband, as reported by the New York Post. She said, “None of that is true. He’s a good dad and a good husband,” she said. “We want him home. That’s it.”

Leslie was asked to comment on rumors that Turner was seen carrying a rifle, but she declined to oblige, saying she had been advised not to speak further.

According to the New York Post, the family reportedly posted an emotional appeal on social media seeking prayers and support for Turner’s safe return, but later deleted the post.

Read more: Fact check: Bechnir Dupree of ‘Baylen Out Loud’ missing? Claim goes viral

What do we know so far?

According to the state police, ten separate warrants have now been issued against Turner. Five for possession of child pornography and five for using a computer to solicit a minor.

On November 20, investigators visited Turner’s home in Appalachia, Wise County, but arrived to find him missing. Since then, the Virginia State Police (VSP) has deployed search-and-rescue teams, drones, K9 units and other resources across the Appalachian region in a bid to locate Turner. He is now considered a fugitive.

Union High School, his place of work, has placed a staff member on administrative leave, in line with policy for ongoing criminal investigations. The school has not publicly named Turner, citing the active nature of the case.

  • Shirin Gupta
    ABOUT THE AUTHOR
    Shirin Gupta

    Shirin Gupta is a content producer with the Hindustan Times. She covers everything between politics, entertainment and sports at the US desk. Shirin got interested in political journalism during her time as a web editor at her college newspaper NCC News in Syracuse when she first started seeing the effects of national politics in life of her fellow colleagues. Shirin has worked on a wide range of fast-moving and developing stories locally when she was at NCC editing accessible reports for the audience. Her current role requires her to track real-time updates, verify information and present balanced coverage across diverse beats. Covering US politics from an international newsroom perspective has further deepened her understanding of how domestic decisions can have far-reaching global consequences. With a keen interest in international affairs, Shirin continues to build her expertise in geopolitics, policy shifts, and cross-border developments. She aims to learn and evolve her reporting in matters of geopolitics and international issues. Outside the newsroom Shirin writes about books and music for her personal blog. She is an avid consumer of pop culture and reveres literature.Read More

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