Executive Summary
- Amber Alert issued for Haizlee Wright, 8, and Brinzlee Wright, 7, in Multnomah County, Oregon.
- The children are believed to be with their non-custodial mother, Ann Marie Quarles, who allegedly refused to return them.
- Quarles claimed via phone to be in Washington but refused to disclose her location to police.
- Authorities consider the children to be in danger and urge the public to call 911 with information.
PORTLAND, Ore. — The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) has issued an Amber Alert for two young sisters believed to be in danger after allegedly being abducted by their non-custodial mother. Authorities are actively searching for 8-year-old Haizlee Wright and 7-year-old Brinzlee Wright, who were last seen in the care of 37-year-old Ann Marie Quarles following a visitation earlier this month.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, a Multnomah County judge granted temporary custody of the children to their father in December, ordering that Quarles be limited to supervised parenting time. Investigators report that on February 13, a family member dropped the girls off with Quarles, but she failed to return them. Following this violation of the custody arrangement, the court directed law enforcement to assist the father in recovering the children.
Deputies executed a welfare check at Quarles’ apartment on Tuesday but found the residence empty. Witnesses informed investigators that Quarles may have left with the girls over the weekend. MCSO officials stated that deputies managed to reach Quarles via telephone that same day. Although she claimed to be in Moses Lake, Washington, she refused to provide her exact location or contact local law enforcement, reportedly telling deputies she intended to defy the court order.
Law enforcement officials have not confirmed the Washington location and suspect Quarles and the children may remain in the Portland area. The MCSO has asked the public to call 911 immediately if the girls are spotted. Haizlee and Brinzlee Wright are described as white, approximately 4 feet tall, weighing between 40 and 45 pounds, with dark blonde hair and blue eyes. Quarles is described as having brown hair and blue eyes.
It is important to note that all individuals are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
Investigative Outlook
The activation of an Amber Alert in a familial abduction case indicates that law enforcement has determined there is a specific, imminent threat to the safety of the children involved. While custody disputes are civil matters, the refusal to disclose a location and explicit non-compliance with a court order escalates the situation to a criminal investigation, potentially involving charges of custodial interference. In cases spanning potential state lines, such as the claim of being in Washington, inter-agency cooperation becomes critical to ensure the safe recovery of the minors.
