Travis Turner vanished just days before police planned to question him, and now a former FBI agent believes the missing Virginia football coach could still be alive. Turner, a 46-year-old high school coach and father of three, disappeared from his home in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, in late 2024. His sudden disappearance came right as investigators were preparing to speak with him about 10 serious allegations involving child sexual offenses.Turner was last seen heading toward the Appalachian woods while carrying a firearm. Since that day, there have been no confirmed sightings, no phone calls, and no digital trail. Even so, authorities have not ended the search. That detail matters, according to a former FBI agent who says the way law enforcement is handling the case suggests they still believe Turner could be alive and hiding.At the time he disappeared, Turner was a well-known figure at Union High School, where his football team was enjoying an unbeaten season. For many in the small town, his disappearance shocked the community and raised questions that still have no clear answers.
Former FBI agent Jennifer Doebler explains why search efforts suggest Travis Turner may still be alive
According to Jennifer Doebler, who previously worked on crimes involving children for the FBI in New Jersey, one key detail stands out. She pointed to the continued involvement of the United States Marshals Service in the search for Turner.She told The Sun, “What I can tell in the news, they haven’t expanded their search area, but they also haven’t called off the US Marshals. The US Marshals don’t look for a deceased person.”Doebler added, “So, US Marshals have not officially stepped out, which means they cannot rule out that he sheltered in place or somehow made it to another location.”Because of that, she believes police are likely staying close to Turner’s family. “I would say they’re probably keeping in very close contact with Turner’s immediate family,” she said. “The reason for that is two reasons: to continue to communicate with them and ask them questions about where Turner could possibly be, but it’s also to see if Turner reached out.”She also explained why family contact matters. “In my opinion, if Travis Turner is still alive, and if Turner was able to make it to another location, there will very likely come a time where he will try to reach out to his wife and children.”Five days after Turner went missing, his wife Leslie publicly denied the allegations. Speaking to Daily Mail, she said, “None of that is true. He’s a good dad and a good husband and we want him home. That’s it.”Travis Turner’s lawyer, Adrian Collins, later said Travis left behind his car, wallet, medication, glasses, and cash. He also told the paper that Travis Turner was not charged until days after he disappeared and was not officially a fugitive at the time. The case remains active, with the Virginia State Police continuing their investigation.Also Read: How Police Secretly Tracked Missing Football Coach Travis Turner Before Child Abuse Charges Came To Light?
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