A schoolgirl who was allegedly abused by Virginia football coach Travis Turner has shared her experience for the first time since he went missing in the Appalachian woods last November. During a recent Wise County School Board meeting, a statement on her behalf was read, revealing her emotional struggle and self-blame in the aftermath of the scandal.
“I did not feel like a victim,” the statement said. “I felt like I was the problem. I felt like I had embarrassed the school, damaged the reputation of the coaching staff, and disrupted something I was supposed to protect instead of myself.” This profound sense of guilt illustrates the often-hidden psychological impacts that victims of abuse can endure.
The statement was presented by Stephen Murray, a Wise County resident who emphasized the alarming patterns of misconduct within the school system by citing three other educators charged with sexual offenses in recent years. He stated, “When there is this much abuse, it’s not just a few bad apples. It is a culture. The fish rots from the head down,” resonating with community members who voiced their outrage during the meeting.
Travis Turner, a 46-year-old father and respected figure in the Big Stone Gap community, has been missing since police sought to interrogate him regarding serious allegations of child pornography and exploitation. He was last seen on November 20 with a firearm, hours before police arrived at his home to initiate investigations. Following his disappearance, he was charged with multiple counts related to child pornography and soliciting a minor.
The meeting marked the first occasion for public input since Turner’s vanishing, and community sentiment was palpable. One man, who identified himself as the victim’s grandfather, expressed pride in his granddaughter’s courage for coming forward, stating, “What she did probably saved some other children.”
Murray also highlighted the concerning frequency of such incidents, pointing to several cases in just the last five years, including Dalton Bates, who faced child pornography charges in 2020; Timothy Lee Meador, who pleaded guilty to related charges this year; and Tyler J. Tibbs, recently charged with indecent liberties involving a child.
“How is this abuse allowed to continue?” Murray implored the school board members, suggesting that the institution prioritized the protection of its reputation over the safety of its students. The school board did not respond to inquiries at the meeting, leaving many in the community feeling frustrated and unheard in their cries for accountability.
This incident reveals a troubling trend within the educational system and underscores the importance of addressing such serious allegations to promote a safer environment for students. The bravery shown by the victim in coming forward serves as a crucial step in fostering awareness and preventing further abuse.