- Name & Age: Six‑year‑old Violet Coultas. Turquoise Alert
- Last Seen: July 12, 2025, around 10 p.m., at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport—captured on surveillance footage with her mother, Sarah Coultas .
- Physical Description:
- Height: ~3’10″; Weight: ~43 lbs
- Blonde hair, hazel eyes
- Clothing: white shirt, pink jacket, light shorts, white shoes ([turn0search2])
- Circumstances: DPS says Sarah, who does not have custody, is believed to have fled Hawaii with Violet in violation of a court order. Authorities consider her disappearance suspicious and Violet endangered([turn0search2]).
- Call to Action: Anyone with information should call 911 or Detective Akina at Hawaii Police Department: 808‑935‑3311.
🧵 What Is a Turquoise Alert & Why It Matters
💡 Legal Foundation: “Emily’s Law”
- Enshrined as House Bill 2281, signed May 13, 2025, by Governor Katie Hobbs—now officially known as “Emily’s Law,” named in memory of 14‑year‑old San Carlos Apache teen Emily Pike, whose disappearance and tragic death revealed gaps in existing alert systems ([turn0search11], [turn0search7], [turn0search10]).
- Arizona joined other states like Washington, California, Colorado, New Mexico and North Dakota in creating culturally significant systems to alert the public about missing Indigenous and vulnerable persons under 65 ([turn0search11], [turn0search5], [turn0search7]).
✅ Criteria for Activation
As stated in Arizona law (A.R.S. 41‑1728.01), a Turquoise Alert may be issued only when all five criteria are satisfied ([turn0search1], [turn0search0]):
- Subject under age 65.
- All local investigative resources have been exhausted (e.g. BOLOs, NCIC entry, hospital/jail checks, flyers, phone tracking).
- Disappearance is unexplained or suspicious—not a simple runaway, unless danger is evident.
- Person believed endangered, possibly in company of someone potentially dangerous.
- Descriptive information is available to the public to assist in locating them.
Violet’s situation—a six‑year‑old whose non‑custodial mother allegedly fled with her—meets all these requirements.
📡 How the Alert Is Broadcast
Once activated by DPS, the alert is disseminated through multiple channels ([turn0search0], [turn0search2], [turn0search4]):
- Emergency Alert System (EAS)
- Wireless Emergency Alert (WEA) to mobile phones
- ADOT digital highway message boards, where applicable
- Law enforcement All‑Points Bulletins (APB)
- Updates via state DPS social media, email, and the official Alerts website
This integrated approach aims to alert the public rapidly within relevant regions to maximize chances of recovery.
🌍 Closing Gaps: Indigenous & Endangered Persons
- Turquoise Alert fills a critical gap between Amber Alerts (children) and Silver/Safe Alerts (seniors or those with cognitive disabilities).
- It addresses systemic neglect in missing-person responses within Indigenous communities, who disproportionately face slower and less frequent alerting procedures ([turn0search11], [turn0search3]).
- Modeled after successful alerts, this system underscores both symbolic and practical significance: Turquoise jewelry carries cultural resonance, and the alert stands for protecting tribal children and relatives ([turn0search11], [turn0search7]).
📋 Applying to Violet’s Case – Summary Table
| Alert Criteria | Details for Violet Coultas |
|---|---|
| Under 65 | Yes, age 6 |
| Exhausted local resources | DPS investigated standard leads |
| Suspicious circumstances | Alleged abduction by non-custodial mother |
| Believed endangered | Yes – mother fleeing custody orders |
| Public descriptive info | Clearly described physical appearance and outfit |
Because Violet satisfies each statutory condition, DPS’s issuance of a Turquoise Alert was entirely appropriate and timely.
🤝 Broader Significance & Impact
- Faster response times: By alerting nearby communities quickly, every minute matters in cases involving small children or endangered individuals.
- Inclusive coverage: The system ensures no demographics—particularly tribal children—fall through the cracks of state alert protocols.
- Collaborative effort: Emily’s Law is a product of working with tribal leaders, state legislators, and Indigenous advocacy groups to honor Emily Pike and prevent future tragedies ([turn0search3], [turn0search7]).
🟢 Final Takeaway
Six-year-old Violet Coultas, last seen at Phoenix Sky Harbor with her mother on July 12, is at the center of a statewide Turquoise Alert. This mechanism, enacted under Emily’s Law, empowers law enforcement and the public with rapid, multi-channel alerts tailored to missing endangered individuals under 65.
This case illustrates the vital blend of statutory precision, descriptive clarity, and public mobilization needed to safeguard vulnerable populations. Arizona’s Turquoise Alert stands as a model for states nationwide committed to inclusivity and urgent response in missing-person emergencies.
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