(Update) Hawai‘i Custodial Interference Case Leads to First-Ever Turquoise Alert Issued in Arizona

Hawai‘i Island police report that a mother wanted for questioning in a custodial interference investigation involving her six-year-old daughter is now wanted for an outstanding arrest warrant. Police have learned that the pair is believed to be in Arizona, prompting the Arizona Department of Public Safety to issue a Turquoise Alert on Wednesday, July 23, 2025, the first ever issued in that state.

Following a July 19, 2025 media release regarding the pair’s disappearance (link to release), Hawai‘i police received credible information that 48-year-old Sarah Coultas, of Pa‘auilo, and her daughter Violet Coultas were in the Phoenix area. An arrest warrant was subsequently issued for Coultas for violation of a court order.

Coultas is described as Caucasian, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 160 pounds, with straight brown hair and hazel eyes.

Her daughter Violet is described as Caucasian, 3 feet 10 inches tall, 43 pounds, with blond hair and hazel eyes. She was last seen wearing a white shirt, pink jacket, pink sweater, light-colored shorts, and white shoes.

Working in coordination with the State of Hawai‘i Department of the Attorney General’s Missing Child Center and the Arizona Department of Public Safety, it was determined that Violet met the criteria for a Turquoise Alert. This statewide notification system helps locate missing and endangered persons under the age of 65, including tribal members. The alert was established following the passage of Emily’s Law in May 2025, named in honor of Emily Pike, a San Carlos Apache tribal member whose case brought national attention to the need for improved notification systems for missing, at-risk adults.

Turquoise Alerts are issued in Arizona when the following criteria are met:

• The missing person is under the age of 65.
• The investigating law enforcement agency has exhausted all available local resources.
• The person’s disappearance occurred under unexplained or suspicious circumstances.
• The missing person is believed to be in danger, in the company of a potentially dangerous person, or otherwise in peril.
• There is sufficient descriptive information available that, if shared, may help locate the person.

The Hawai‘i Police Department thanks the Arizona Department of Public Safety for their assistance and collaboration in this ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Sarah Coultas or Violet Coultas is encouraged to contact the Hawai‘i Police Department’s non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311, or Detective Carrie Akina at (808) 326-4646, ext. 278, or via email at carrie.akina@hawaiicounty.gov.

Tipsters who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300. All Crime Stoppers information is kept strictly confidential.