Arizona’s First Turquoise Alert Successfully Resolved

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A vibrant playground in Phoenix, reflecting the joyous resolution of the Turquoise Alert.

News Summary

Arizona has successfully resolved its first Turquoise Alert after a missing 6-year-old girl, Violet Coultas, was found safe in Cottonwood. Violet was reported missing following her last sighting with her mother at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. Initiated by the Hawaii Police Department, this alert led to the timely discovery of both Violet and her mother at a women’s shelter, showcasing the effectiveness of the new alert system designed for vulnerable individuals.

Phoenix, Arizona – Arizona’s first Turquoise Alert was successfully resolved after a missing 6-year-old girl, Violet Coultas, was found safe in Cottonwood. Violet was reported missing after she was last seen with her mother, Sarah Coultas, at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport on July 12 at 10:01 p.m. Authorities had reason to believe that Sarah, who is 48 years old and does not have custody of Violet, fled Hawaii in violation of a court order.

The alert was initiated at the request of the Hawaii Police Department. Although the alert was a new initiative, it demonstrated its intended purpose when Violet and Sarah were located at a women’s shelter around 1 a.m. on Thursday. They were situated in Cottonwood, Arizona, approximately 100 miles north of Phoenix.

Information leading to their discovery was relayed to the Cottonwood Police Department by the FBI around 11:30 p.m. on Wednesday. When found, Violet was reported to be safe and asleep, and Cottonwood Police initially cared for her until officers from the Arizona Department of Child Safety arrived to take custody.

Sarah Coultas was taken into custody without incident and is currently pending extradition back to Hawaii. Her case is particularly notable since she had an outstanding arrest warrant prior to the activation of the Turquoise Alert. The alert system, which is specifically designed for cases involving individuals under 65 years of age who are believed to be in danger or were last seen under suspicious circumstances, was introduced on July 10, 2025, through legislation signed by Arizona Governor Katie Hobbs.

The Turquoise Alert system is officially known as “Emily’s Law,” named in honor of Emily Pike, a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe. The law was enacted to facilitate advanced notifications regarding missing persons, particularly focusing on vulnerable populations. The alert is activated when local law enforcement has exhausted all resources in finding a missing individual whose disappearance is deemed unexplained or suspicious.

Previously, there were reported sightings of Sarah and Violet on July 6 in South Kona, Hawaii, which raised concerns about Violet’s safety ahead of the alert’s activation. Colonel Jeffrey Glover, the director of the Arizona Department of Public Safety, confirmed that the system functioned effectively in this instance, emphasizing its designed purpose for swiftly responding to cases involving missing individuals.

This incident marks an important milestone as Arizona’s first issued Turquoise Alert illustrates the state’s commitment to protecting its vulnerable populations. The Amber Alert system, which has been in place for years, continues to operate alongside Turquoise Alerts, providing critical resources and frameworks for protecting children and individuals deemed at risk.

With the successful outcome of Violet’s case, the Arizona authorities have reinforced their dedication to public safety and have set a precedent for the proactive use of the Turquoise Alert to locate missing persons swiftly and efficiently.