Turquoise Alert Meaning: New Emergency Call Issued As Six-Year Old Violet Coultas Goes Missing In Phoenix

A Turquoise Alert has been issued across Arizona after six-year-old Violet Coultas was reported missing from Phoenix on 12 July 2025. Authorities believe she may be in danger and in the company of her non-custodial mother, Sarah Coultas, who allegedly fled Hawai'i in violation of a family court order.

Violet was last seen at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport and is the subject of the first statewide Turquoise Alert since the programme's launch earlier this month.

What Is a Turquoise Alert?

Arizona's Turquoise Alert system is a new emergency notification protocol designed to help locate missing individuals under the age of 65 who are believed to be in danger under suspicious or unexplained circumstances. It differs from the Amber Alert system, which is limited to child abduction cases, by including a wider demographic such as vulnerable adults and Indigenous persons.

The system was implemented in July 2025 as part of 'Emily's Law', named in memory of Emily Pike, a 14-year-old Indigenous girl from the San Carlos Apache Tribe who went missing earlier in the year. Turquoise was chosen for its cultural significance among Native American communities. The alert is distributed through multiple platforms including wireless emergency alerts, highway signs, broadcast media, and law enforcement social channels.

Timeline of the Disappearance

According to the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS), Violet was last seen at around 10:01 p.m. MST on 12 July at Sky Harbor International Airport. Surveillance footage captured her walking with her mother, Sarah Coultas. Authorities state that Sarah travelled from Hawai'i without legal custody and is now the subject of an arrest warrant for custodial interference.

Violet is described as approximately 3 feet 10 inches tall, weighing 43 pounds, with blonde hair and hazel eyes. At the time of her disappearance, she was wearing a white shirt, pink jacket, light-coloured shorts, and white shoes. Officials believe they may be travelling in a silver 2005 or 2006 Toyota Corolla.

The Turquoise Alert was activated on 23 July, prompting questions from the public regarding the delay. Law enforcement agencies have not disclosed specific reasons but confirmed the situation now meets the legal criteria for a statewide alert.

How the Alert System Operates

Arizona's Turquoise Alert system notifies the public when a person under 65 goes missing under suspicious circumstances and is believed to be at risk. To qualify, authorities must have enough descriptive information to aid in their recovery. Alerts are distributed via text messages, highway signs, broadcast media, and DPS online platforms.

Modelled after systems in New Mexico, Washington, and California, it was created to address cases that fall outside Amber or Silver Alert criteria.

Law Enforcement and Public Response

Police have urged the public to call 911 immediately if they see either Violet or Sarah Coultas. According to AZ Family, the Arizona Department of Public Safety issued the state's first Turquoise Alert after determining that all activation criteria were met, including that the missing child is under 65, believed to be endangered, and enough descriptive information was available to assist the public

The case highlights the importance of the Turquoise Alert initiative, especially for at-risk children and marginalised communities. Arizona officials have reiterated that the public's vigilance can make a critical difference in such investigations.