Wife of high school football coach Travis Turner asks for prayers after his mysterious disappearance sparking search

THE wife of a missing high school football coach has issued a heartbreaking plea for his return.  Travis Turner, head coach at Union High School in Virginia, has been missing since November 20.

Police were deployed to Turner’s home in Appalachia as part of a probe, per The NY Post.  “This was part of the investigation, and NOT to arrest [Turner],” cops said in a statement.  “While in transit, the agents were informed that Turner was no longer at the location.”

Turner, 46, was last seen entering the woods near his home.  He was wearing a gray sweatshirt, sweatpants and glasses, according to the Virginia State Police.

Turner’s wife Leslie took to social media on Friday to give an update on his disappearance.  “I just wanted to get on here for a second to clear up something, as of right now, 10:25 PM on Friday night, Travis is missing, & that’s all we know,” she wrote on Facebook.

“We love him & need him here with us.  “Thank you to everyone who has reached out with love & support. It means more than you know.  “Just keep praying that he comes home.”

Turner has served as the head coach at Union since 2011.  He was officially declared as a missing person by authorities on Monday.  The 46-year-old has twice been crowned Southwest Virginia Coach of the Year.

He was a star quarterback himself in high school, leading three state championship teams from 1994-97.  Turner has led Union to an undefeated season, with the team playing Saturday despite their coach’s disappearance.

The team beat Graham High School to go 12-0 on the year.  “I think we were going to play no matter what,’ senior defensive leader Carlos Anderson told the Bristol Herald-Courier.  “We were ready for this game. We’ve been ready since summer and we just had to go out and execute.”

On Friday, Wise County Public Schools confirmed an employee had been placed on administrative leave.

They did not confirm if the employee was Turner or if the cases were linked, per The Post.  “A staff member has been placed on administrative leave with pay while an external agency reviews an allegation that was reported to the division,” the district said in a statement.

“This is standard procedure and not a determination of wrongdoing.  “This situation also involves an active law-enforcement matter, and the division cannot comment further.”