On Tuesday night, the Arizona Department of Public Safety (DPS) issued a Turquoise Alert for Isabella Comas, a 21-year-old woman from Avondale who has been missing since Sunday afternoon. The alert, which was disseminated widely across the state, has drawn urgent attention to her disappearance and the evolving role of the Turquoise Alert system in safeguarding vulnerable adults in Arizona.
According to statements from DPS and reports by outlets including AZFamily and KTAR News, Comas was last seen on Sunday, January 11, 2026, around 3 p.m. near Van Buren Street and Avondale Boulevard. She was reportedly leaving to visit her boyfriend near 91st Avenue and Indian School Road in Phoenix. Friends and family became concerned after Comas failed to pick up a friend for work on Monday, January 12—a routine she never missed—and then did not show up to her own job. Multiple attempts to reach her by phone went unanswered, heightening fears for her safety.
Comas is described as Hispanic, standing 5 feet 3 inches tall and weighing 110 pounds. She has distinctive pink hair and brown eyes. At the time she was last seen, she was wearing a baggy navy-blue shirt, blue pants with a white line down the side, and possibly sandals. She was driving a red 2011 Hyundai Sonata with Arizona license plate 2EA6LW, a detail that was quickly circulated by authorities in hopes of spurring tips from the public.
By early Wednesday morning, DPS announced that the vehicle had been located. However, there was still no sign of Comas herself. This discovery, while a lead, left her loved ones and law enforcement with more questions than answers. The urgency of the situation was underscored by the deployment of the Turquoise Alert—a relatively new system in Arizona designed to address precisely these kinds of unexplained disappearances.
Tracking technology played a key role in the early stages of the investigation. According to DPS, Comas’ cellphone was located and recovered after her disappearance. The phone showed activity in several areas, including Desert Star Park at 86th Drive and Encanto Boulevard, near 89th and Glendale avenues in Glendale, and in the vicinity of El Mirage Road and Butler Drive in El Mirage. These locations have become focal points in the search effort, with authorities combing the neighborhoods and urging anyone who may have seen Comas or her vehicle in recent days to come forward.
“The goal of the Turquoise Alert is to locate the missing endangered person through efficient information dissemination and communication that results in the safe and expedient recovery,” read a statement on the DPS website. The alert system, established following the tragic death of Emily Pike—a San Carlos Apache tribal member—was created to fill a gap in missing persons protocols, particularly for cases involving Indigenous individuals and other adults under the age of 65. Unlike the Amber Alert, which is reserved for confirmed child abductions, the Turquoise Alert is intended for people missing under unexplained or suspicious circumstances, when law enforcement believes the individual is in danger or may be in the company of someone potentially dangerous.
As explained by AZFamily, the Turquoise Alert can be issued for missing persons from childhood up to age 65, provided local law enforcement has exhausted all available resources in their search. The system is also designed to raise public awareness and encourage tips in cases where the circumstances of the disappearance are mysterious or do not fit the criteria of other alert systems.
For Isabella Comas’ family and friends, the days since her disappearance have been agonizing. The fact that she missed work and failed to pick up her friend—both highly out of character—has heightened concerns that she may be in danger. Authorities have emphasized that anyone with information, no matter how seemingly insignificant, should contact the Avondale Police Department at 623-333-7001 or call 911. Every detail could be crucial in piecing together her movements and ensuring her safe return.
The case of Isabella Comas also highlights broader issues facing missing persons investigations in Arizona and beyond. The implementation of the Turquoise Alert system, while a significant step forward, reflects a growing recognition that traditional alert systems have not always served the needs of all vulnerable populations. Historically, Indigenous women and adults have gone missing at disproportionately high rates, often with little public attention or rapid response from authorities. The creation of the Turquoise Alert was, in part, a response to these disparities.
In the words of a DPS spokesperson, “The difference between an Amber Alert and a Turquoise Alert is that an Amber Alert is issued when there is an abduction, while a Turquoise Alert is for someone who is missing under unknown circumstances.” This distinction is more than bureaucratic; it’s a recognition that not all disappearances fit neatly into established categories. For families like the Comas’, it offers hope that increased visibility and community engagement can make a difference.
As the investigation continues, law enforcement officials have reiterated their commitment to following every lead. The recovery of Comas’ vehicle and phone has provided some clues, but the absence of further evidence has only deepened the mystery. Friends, family, and volunteers have begun distributing flyers and canvassing neighborhoods, hoping that someone, somewhere, saw something that could help bring Isabella home.
For the Avondale community, the case has served as a sobering reminder of the fragility of daily routines and the importance of looking out for one another. Neighbors have rallied around the Comas family, offering support and sharing information on social media. The Turquoise Alert, still relatively new in Arizona, has proven its value in mobilizing the public and ensuring that missing adults do not fall through the cracks.
Anyone with information about Isabella Comas’ whereabouts is urged to act immediately. As DPS and local police have made clear, time is of the essence in cases like this. The hope remains that with continued vigilance and community cooperation, Isabella will be found safe and reunited with those who care about her.
The search for Isabella Comas continues, and with it, the resolve of a community determined not to let her story fade from view.
