[Warning: Potentially Triggering Content]
The case of lacking highschool soccer coach Travis Turner continues to churn on — and it’s changing into extra clear how cops apparently got here throughout the accused man within the first place.
Turner, 46, was in fact as soon as celebrated as the top soccer coach of highly effective Union Excessive College in rural southwestern Virginia. However he vanished from his dwelling almost a month in the past as police had been reportedly on their technique to query him on youngster porn allegations.
Days after his disappearance, he was charged with a number of youngster pornography-related offenses, together with accusations that he used a pc to solicit a minor. By then, Turner was already gone. He left behind his automobile, pockets, glasses, even his contact lenses. He allegedly fled with a gun, disappearing into rural and mountainous terrain he knew effectively.
Associated: Santa-For-Rent Accused Of Baby Pornography Was Additionally An Elementary College Trainer
Because the manhunt stretches on, new hypothesis has emerged about what might have triggered Turner’s flight. Legislation enforcement consultants now recommend he might have been recognized by an undercover sting on-line — one presumably involving sketchy chat rooms the place officers pose as minors to catch alleged youngster porn predators.
Veteran detective Brian Kohlhepp speculated about that to DailyMail.com on Tuesday, saying:
“It’s a typical factor legislation enforcement does to enter chat rooms in an undercover capability to attempt to catch people who’re having sexual conversations with who they imagine to be minors.”
Criminologist Alex del Carmen echoed that evaluation. In keeping with del Carmen, it could not be stunning if Turner believed he was allegedly speaking with a toddler when he was really interacting with an undercover officer.
Court docket paperwork tied to the costs have been sealed, which provides one other layer of secrecy to an already opaque case.
Associated: Wait, Now They’re Saying Travis Turner Might Have LEFT THE COUNTRY?!
In the meantime, hypothesis has grown darker. With freezing temperatures in Sensible County, Virginia and warnings from different ex-law enforcement officers about wildlife within the Appalachian hinterland, questions on whether or not Turner is even alive linger.
Plus, a $5,000 reward from the US Marshals Service nonetheless has but to supply any solutions for cops.
And so, Turner’s whereabouts nonetheless stay unknown…
If in case you have honest trigger to suspect youngster abuse, name the Childhelp Nationwide Baby Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-Baby or 1-800-422-4453, or go to www.childhelp.org.
Should you or somebody has skilled sexual violence and wish to study extra about sources, take into account testing https://www.rainn.org/sources.
[Image via Virginia State Police]
