AUTHORITIES at the center of the manhunt for alleged pedophile Travis Turner could be closely monitoring the suspect’s family, a law enforcement expert has said.
The hunt for Turner, 46, is approaching its second month after the disgraced high school football coach fled his home in Wise County, Virginia, on November 20 as he was being investigated for child 𝒔𝒆𝒙 crimes.
Travis Turner is wanted on five counts of possession of child pornography and five counts of using a computer to solicit a minorCredit: Virginia State Police
Travis Turner and his wife Leslie Turner, whom he shares three children withCredit: Facebook
US Marshals and Virginia State Police have deployed drones and K9 units in their search for TurnerCredit: WCYB
Turner, a married father of three who is wanted on 10 child 𝒔𝒆𝒙 charges, was last seen heading into the dense Appalachian woods near his home, dressed in athletic clothing and carrying a firearm, Virginia State Police said.
Virginia State Police, with the help of US Marshals, have conducted several search-and-rescue operations and deployed drones and K9 units in the Appalachian hinterlands.
But since vanishing into the rugged terrain almost two months ago, there have been no sightings or updates on the search for Turner.
Virginia State Police told The U.S. Sun the search for the fugitive is ongoing and the investigation continues.
Jennifer Doebler, a former FBI agent, said law enforcement on the ground could be looking at different avenues in their hunt for Turner.
“I would say they’re probably keeping in very close contact with Turner’s immediate family,” Doebler, who worked on the Crimes Against Children/Child Pornography Team in the FBI Newark field office in New Jersey, told The U.S. Sun.
“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.
“In my opinion, if 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.
“So, I would think that the [US] Marshals would stay in contact and continue interviewing, continue their relationship, and continue looking at other avenues.”
Doebler suspects that since the US Marshals are still assigned to the case, it’s likely Turner is alive.
“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 former FBI agent added.
“The US Marshals don’t look for a deceased person. 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.”
Doebler said it’s impossible to confirm whether Turner is still alive due to the lack of updates from law enforcement and the decision by a circuit court judge to seal any documents related to the fugitive’s case.
MANHUNT CONTINUES
Irving Brandt, a retired deputy US Marshal with more than 20 years of experience, underscored certain clues in the investigation that could suggest Turner is still evading law enforcement.
Brandt told The U.S. Sun that in cases similar to Turner’s, the suspect would not want their family to “forever wonder” what happened to them.
“A person usually leaves something behind to allow the people to know for closure, say that they moved on from this world,” the retired deputy US Marshal said.
“And this wasn’t the case. So, after the warrants were issued and the United States Marshal Service became involved, it became a fugitive investigation because he’s wanted on specific crimes.
“And fugitive investigations, a manhunt that can be nationwide or worldwide, each one is unique in itself, and it depends a lot upon the person’s resources.”
Retired deputy US Marshal Key Irving Brandt spoke to The U.S. Sun about the ongoing search for Travis TurnerCredit: Facebook/U.S. Embassy Jamaica
Travis Turner is a well-known football coach at Union High School in Wise County, VirginiaCredit: Wise County High School
Turner was last seen nearly two months ago, walking into the dense Appalachian woods near his home in Wise County, Virginia, on November 20Credit: Facebook
Brandt added, “For a fugitive to stay a fugitive, to stay hidden, it isn’t easy.
“You need some kind of support. You need some kind of financial support. You need the ability to travel.”
Brandt believes US Marshals officials have already scoured travel databases to determine if Turner had purchased a plane or bus ticket.
“I’m very confident that that was done within the very beginning of the investigation,” he said.
The US Marshals are offering a $5,000 reward for information leading to Turner’s arrest.