PHOENIX - A Turquoise Alert for a young girl who was last seen at an airport in Phoenix has been canceled after police say the child was found safe in Cottonwood.
What we know:
According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety, 6-year-old Violet Coultas was last seen on video surveillance at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport on the night of July 12.
At the time of her last appearance, investigators say she was accompanied by Sarah Coultas, who is identified as Violet's noncustodial mother.
"Sarah Coultas is alleged to have fled Hawaii with Violet in violation of a court order," read a portion of the statement.
Sarah Coultas (Courtesy: Yavapai County Sheriff's Office)
Per a statement issued on July 19 by the Hawaii Police Department, Sarah, 48, was last seen with Violet in Hawaii on July 6.
"Coultas is wanted for questioning in connection with a custodial interference investigation," Hawaii Police Department officials wrote, referencing Sarah.
Child found ‘safe, asleep and undisturbed’
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DPS cancels Turquoise Alert for Hawaiian girl
Officials with the Arizona Department of Public Safety say the agency has canceled a Turquoise Alert for a young girl who was last seen at an airport in Phoenix.
Police in Cottonwood say they were notified late Wednesday night by the FBI that Violet and Sarah may be in the area.
"Officers immediately began working to develop leads and quickly narrowed down a possible location," the department said.
At 1 a.m. on Thursday, Violet and Sarah were found at a women's shelter where Sarah was taken into custody.
"The child was found safe, asleep and undisturbed, and remained in the care of police and shelter staff until the Arizona Department of Child Safety (DCS) arrived and took custody," police said.
Dig deeper:
DPS officials have confirmed with us that this is the first time a Turquoise Alert was issued in Arizona. The alert was launched on July 10 after being signed into law by Governor Katie Hobbs.
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Lawmakers say the Turquoise Alert was written for Indigenous people, but it can be issued for anyone that meets the following criteria:
- The missing person is under the age of 65.
- Investigators have exhausted all other available local resources.
- The person has gone missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
- The missing person is in danger, or with someone who is potentially dangerous.
- If public information can assist in the safe recovery of the missing person.