Wife of missing football coach accused of child pornography did not help him escape: lawyer

Need to know

• An attorney for the family of wanted Virginia high school football coach Travis Turner said in a statement this week that Turner’s wife did not help him escape from police.

• Turner was last seen by his wife on Nov. 20, a day before she reported him missing to police

• Five days after her disappearance, Virginia State Police announced 10 charges against Turner of possession of child pornography and using a computer to solicit a minor.

An attorney for the family of missing high school football coach Travis Turner said this week that Virginia’s fugitive wife did not help him escape when he went missing late last month.

Turner, 46, was last seen on Nov. 20, less than a week before Virginia State Police announced 10 warrants for his arrest for possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minor.

“His wife wasn’t helping him escape, she was asking for help to find him,” the family’s attorney, Adrian Collins, said in a statement to media reported by local WCYB.

“The family of Travis Turner continues to cooperate with law enforcement efforts to locate Travis,” Collins continued in his statement. “With their consent their homes and property have been searched multiple times.”

The family’s lawyer added: “The family’s last contact with Travis causes them great concern for his health, but they remain hopeful that he will be found and given a chance to defend himself in a court of law.”

A spokesman for the Virginia State Police Department did not comment when PEOPLE asked them about investigators’ interest in Turner’s wife.

“There are no updates to share at this time,” a state police spokesman said. “Investigation efforts are ongoing with the assistance of the Marshals Service and the FBI. We are still asking for the public’s assistance in providing any information that may lead to Turner’s whereabouts.”

Earlier this week, People reported that Turner’s wife allegedly told police that she had found her husband in Appalachia, Va., on Nov. 20 before officially reporting him missing to local authorities. Ma was seen walking in the forest near his house.

Turner’s disappearance came just days before his undefeated Union High School boys’ soccer team began the Virginia state playoffs, as questions swirled around his place in the local community.

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In his statement this week, Collins included “a recap with some additional details” of what the Turner family had to say, according to WCYB.

Collins reiterated in his statement on behalf of the family, “Travis was last seen by some of his family when he was walking with a gun in the local woods near his home. “It was something he had done many times over the years. When he did not return home that evening, his wife sought help from law enforcement out of concern. As directed, he filed a missing person’s report with the Virginia State Police the next day.”

Collins added that Turner’s “wife’s concern was heightened by the following facts: Travis’ car and keys were left at home. Travis wore contact lenses during the day and glasses at night. Travis’s contact lens supplies and glasses were left at home. Travis’ wallet, license, cash, and all of its contents were left at home as were certain medications.”

“It’s not like Travis was missing or living away from home,” Collins said, adding that “criminal charges were not received against Travis until the day Travis failed to return home.”

The family’s attorney also included a plea to Turner: “If Travis has the capacity and is able to respond to his family’s wishes; your wife and children are in crisis,” Collins said. “Leslie begs you to come home and defend yourself in a court of law and face the charges. Don’t leave your family to fight this fight without you. They love and miss you. They want you to know they have your support.”

People reached out to Collins several times this week for more information but had not heard back as of Thursday, Dec. 4.

According to reports from ABC News, WCYB and WJHL, Turner is considered a fugitive by Virginia State Police, as authorities continue to search for him this week.

Read the original article on People