A distressed and furious mother has reached out to Virginia legislators, urging them to address and resolve the “systemic” child safety problems within the school district where elusive football coach Travis Turner recently disappeared.

Turner, who also held the role of a physical education teacher, was the driving force behind the Union Bears’ flawless season. However, on November 20, he vanished from his home in Appalachia, Virginia, just as authorities were en route to question him.

According to his family, Turner left their residence carrying a firearm and headed into a dense and rugged area. Shortly after, the father of three was charged with ten counts related to child pornography and soliciting a minor.

These accusations against Turner have intensified scrutiny on Wise County Public Schools, especially since at least three other employees in the school system have encountered similar allegations in recent years.

In a correspondence addressed to board chair Larry Greear and a Virginia House of Delegates representative, a mother, whose email was accessed by the Daily Mail, voiced her “grave concern over the culture that has been permitted to develop—and often prosper” within the district.

Travis Turner vanished into the woods on November 20 and has yet to be found by police

Turner vanished from his family home in Appalachia, Virginia (pictured), on November 20 and left the property armed with a gun and walked into a ‘heavily wooded and mountainous area’ 

Timothy Lee Meador (left) also worked at Union High School and remains active on the Sex Offender Registry. Tyler Jay Tibbs (right) was arrested on similar charges earlier this year. He worked at a different school a 25-minute drive away

‘These patterns point to a systemic issue that can no longer be ignored,’ they wrote before accusing the school board of ‘sweeping under the rug’ other allegations ‘involving adults in appointed positions to serve our children.’

The whistleblower also alerted lawmakers to allegations ‘that members of the school’s administrative team were made aware’ of the accusations against Turner ‘and failed to report them to law enforcement and social services.. within 24 hours,’ as required by Code of Virginia law.

The letter finished: ‘As a parent, I am heartbroken and angry. I am asking for answers, for action, and for assurance that our schools will no longer be a place where misconduct is ignored or concealed.’

The Daily Mail has put the allegations to the school district – and made several attempts to contact officials – but has not received a reply. The Daily Mail has also reached out to lawmakers about the allegations.

Earlier this week, there was a tense board meeting – the first since Turner disappeared – during which ‘public comment was removed from the agenda.’

One parent told News 5 they were ‘aggravated and concerned’ about what they perceive to be a ‘lack of communication from the school board’. 

Among the issues that officials refused to discuss was whether the Union principal, Jerred Chandler, had also been placed on leave.

On Tuesday, Wise County Public Schools released a statement on social media which said they were ‘aware of the concerns that have been raised publicly. The division takes all matters involving student safety seriously and follows all required reporting laws, legal obligations, and established procedures.

The family’s attorney said in a statement that they stand behind the father of three

‘Certain matters, including personnel issues and ongoing law-enforcement activity, are confidential under Virginia law. As a result, the division is unable to provide additional details or comment further at this time.

‘The School Board conducts its business in accordance with Virginia’s open-meeting laws. When closed sessions are held, they are limited to purposes permitted by law, and no final action is taken without being reported and voted on in an open meeting.’

Back in August, Tyler Jay Tibbs – a teacher at Coeburn Middle School – was charged with three counts of carnal knowledge and one count of taking indecent liberties with a child by a person in a custodial or supervisory relationship. Wise County Public Schools confirmed he had been been placed on leave.

In 2023, Timothy Lee Meador, then a teacher and coach at the same school as Turner, was indicted on three felony charges. 

He later pleaded guilty to two counts of indecent liberties with a child and served one year and three months behind bars.

Back in 2022, Dalton Matthew Bates – the former band director at Central High School in Wise County – pleaded guilty to child pornography charges.

In a statement to the Daily Mail on Tuesday, Virginia State Police said: ‘As of this morning (December 10, 2025), Turner has not been located and there are no updates to share. The search remains ongoing with the assistance of the Marshals Service and FBI.

Leslie, who has been married to Turner for 25 years, has previously told the Daily Mail that the accusations against her husband are untrue

‘This remains an active investigation. As such, we have provided all of the information we’re able to at this time. We are still asking for the public’s assistance in providing any information that may lead to Turner’s whereabouts.’

Turner had been a teacher at the school for 14 years at the time of his disappearance, which came shortly after he had been placed on ‘administrative leave with pay’, pending an investigation which remains ongoing. 

There have been no known sightings of Turner since he disappeared and police are yet to announce any major breakthrough in the hunt. 

Following his disappearance, Turner’s wife Leslie, also 46, told the Daily Mail of the child porn charges: ‘None of that is true. He’s a good dad and a good husband and we want him home. That’s it.’