Executive Summary
- Multnomah County deputies located two missing sisters safe in Gresham around 2:30 a.m. Wednesday.
- The children were found with their non-custodial mother, Ann Marie Quarles, following an Amber Alert.
- Detectives are forwarding the case to the district attorney regarding potential charges for the custody violation.
GRESHAM, Ore. – An Amber Alert issued for two missing sisters was canceled early Wednesday morning after law enforcement successfully located the children safe in Gresham, according to the Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office.
Deputies reported finding the two girls, aged 8 and 7, at approximately 2:30 a.m. in the 17000 block of Northeast Sacramento Street. They were discovered in the company of their non-custodial mother, 37-year-old Ann Marie Quarles. Authorities confirmed that both children appeared to be uninjured at the time of recovery.
The emergency alert was originally activated on Tuesday night after police stated that Quarles failed to return the children to their father, an act cited as a violation of a court custody order. The failure to adhere to the mandated custody arrangement prompted an immediate, multi-agency search operation across the region.
Legal and Investigative Outlook
With the search phase concluded, the focus of law enforcement has shifted to the criminal investigation regarding the alleged custodial interference. Detectives are finalizing their inquiry and will forward the case to the district attorney’s office to determine if charges will be filed. As the judicial review process begins, it is important to note that all individuals, including Quarles, are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
