[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
The case of missing high school football coach Travis Turner continues to churn on — and it’s becoming more clear how cops apparently came across the accused man in the first place.
Turner, 46, was of course once celebrated as the head football coach of powerful Union High School in rural southwestern Virginia. But he vanished from his home nearly a month ago as police were reportedly on their way to question him on child porn allegations.
Days after his disappearance, he was charged with multiple child pornography-related offenses, including accusations that he used a computer to solicit a minor. By then, Turner was already gone. He left behind his car, wallet, glasses, even his contact lenses. He allegedly fled with a gun, disappearing into rural and mountainous terrain he knew well.
Related: Santa-For-Hire Accused Of Child Pornography Was Also An Elementary School Teacher
As the manhunt stretches on, new speculation has emerged about what may have triggered Turner’s flight. Law enforcement experts now suggest he could have been identified through an undercover sting online — one possibly involving sketchy chat rooms where officers pose as minors to catch alleged child porn predators.
Veteran detective Brian Kohlhepp speculated about that to DailyMail.com on Tuesday, saying:
“It’s a common thing law enforcement does to go into chat rooms in an undercover capacity to try to catch individuals who are having sexual conversations with who they believe to be minors.”
Criminologist Alex del Carmen echoed that assessment. According to del Carmen, it would not be surprising if Turner believed he was allegedly communicating with a child when he was actually interacting with an undercover officer.
Court documents tied to the charges have been sealed, which adds another layer of secrecy to an already opaque case.
Related: Wait, Now They’re Saying Travis Turner May Have LEFT THE COUNTRY?!
Meanwhile, speculation has grown darker. With freezing temperatures in Wise County, Virginia and warnings from other ex-law enforcement officials about wildlife in the Appalachian hinterland, questions about whether Turner is even alive linger.
Plus, a $5,000 reward from the US Marshals Service still has yet to produce any answers for cops.
And so, Turner’s whereabouts still remain unknown…
If you have sincere cause to suspect child abuse, call the Childhelp National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Child or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
If you or someone you know has experienced sexual violence and would like to learn more about resources, consider checking out https://www.rainn.org/resources.
[Image via Virginia State Police]
