- A Turquoise Alert, a new system for missing endangered persons under 65, has been issued.
- Violet Coultas, 6, was last seen at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on July 12.
- Authorities believed she was with her non-custodial mother, Sarah Coultas.
A Turquoise Alert has been issued for a young girl last seen at the Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport, according to the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
Violet Coultas, 6, was last seen on video surveillance at Phoenix Sky Harbor on July 12 around 10 p.m., DPS said.
She was with her mother, Sarah Coultas who does not have custody, according to DPS. Sarah Coultas is believed to have fled Hawaii with Violet Coultas in violation of a court order, DPS said.
Violet Coultas was described as a 3-foot-10-inch White girl weighing 43 pounds with blonde hair and hazel eyes, DPS said. She was last seen wearing a white shirt, pink jacket, pink sweater, light-colored shorts and white shoes, according to DPS.
Anyone with information on Violet Coultas’ whereabouts was urged to contact 911.
Detective Akina with the Hawaii Police Department was investigating and could be reached at 808-935-3311.
What is a Turquoise Alert?
The Turquoise Alert system is activated when a person goes missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances and is believed to be endangered, according to DPS.
An alert is issued when there is a report of a missing or endangered person, including tribal members, under the age of 65, and specific criteria are met, DPS said.
These included:
- The missing person is under 65 years of age.
- The law enforcement agency investigating the missing person report has used all available local resources.
- The agency has determined that the person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
- Sufficient descriptive information is available to assist in their recovery.
Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs signed a measure establishing Turquoise Alerts May 21. The alert officially launched July 10, according to a news release from Hobbs’ office.
The alert was also known as “Emily’s Law,” named in honor of slain San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike, 14, who was killed after she ran away from a Mesa group home. Her dismembered remains were found in February.
This was the first ever Turquoise Alert issued since the new system was implemented.
The Republic’s Debra Utacia Krol contributed to this article.
