The children were first reported missing July 18

Ashley Wadhwani, Lauren Collins, Tricia Weel, Jen

Surrey RCMP say the Amber Alert for eight-year-old Aurora Bolton and 10-year-old Joshuah Bolton has been cancelled. They were last seen by their father on June 28 when leaving for a planned vacation with their mother, Verity Bolton. They were supposed to return July 17, 2023. (Lauren Collins)

The two children who were the focus of a more than a week-long B.C. Amber Alert were found safe on a rural property in Alberta, just outside of the Town of Edson.

An investigation led by the Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit alerted police to the rural property that was not linked to the mother of the children, her father or boyfriend.

At about 7:20 p.m. Saturday night Alberta RCMP responded to the property and located the two children and three adults.

Verity Bolton and her boyfriend Abraxas Glazov were arrested, while a third adult was detained, say RCMP.

Surrey RCMP Cpl. Vanessa Munn said there were “some varying levels of co-operation” during the arrest, but that they were taken into custody “without significant force.”

The children were then taken to an RCMP detachment in Alberta where their father was waiting.

Police believe Bolton, Glazov, the third adult and two children had been on the property since July 18, before the Amber Alert was issued.

Charges against Bolton and Glazov were filed in provincial court on Sunday, July 30.

Bolton, 45, is facing two charges of abduction in contravention of a custody order, while Glazov, 53 is facing two charges of abduction of a person under 14.

Both are in custody in Alberta awaiting their next court appearance.

During the 11-day Amber Alert, police received 435 tips from all over B.C., Alberta and even as far away as New Brunswick.

The Surrey RCMP expressed that they understand many people were following the Amber Alert closely over the last few days, however, there are little details they can release.

“The children have been reunited with their family, who are extremely grateful. This is the outcome we could have hoped for and is the result of hard work and perseverance of the investigation team,” Munn said

The two children in a province-wide Amber Alert have been located safely, police say.

Surrey RCMP said Saturday (July 29) that around 7:20 p.m. that Joshuah, 10, and Aurora Bolton, 8, were located safe. They are now in the process of being reunited with their family.

“We recognize that many have been following this investigation closely since the AMBER Alert was issued,” said Cpl. Vanessa Munn. “We sincerely appreciate the assistance from the public, media, community and policing partners, who all played an important role in helping to safely locate the children.”

The release from Surrey RCMP didn’t mention their mom Verity Bolton, her father Robert Bolton or her boyfriend Abraxas Glazov.

Police say additional information will be provided at a news conference that is scheduled for Sunday.

The children were reported missing by their father to Surrey RCMP on July 18, after their mother, Verity Bolton, failed to return them back to him July 17.

The Amber Alert was issued July 19.

Verity and her children left the Surrey area for a planned vacation in the Okanagan on June 28.

Verity was last seen in Kamloops leaving a grocery story on July 15 and the children were last seen at a Merritt gas station on July 7. The three were believed to be travelling with Verity’s father, Robert Bolton, and her boyfriend Abraxas Glazov.

Police believed they were living off-the-grid.

The relief was palpable as two young children at the center of a British Columbia Amber Alert were found safe in Alberta, ending a frantic nationwide search. However, that relief quickly turned to concern and outrage as authorities announced charges against the children’s mother and her boyfriend, alleging they deliberately fled with the kids and evaded law enforcement.

The saga began earlier this week in Surrey, B.C., where the two children, aged six and eight, were last seen in the custody of their mother, 35-year-old Jessica Palmer. The children had been scheduled to be returned to their father under a court-ordered custody agreement, but Palmer failed to comply. When attempts to reach her were unsuccessful and inconsistencies in her statements to social workers surfaced, authorities became alarmed. By the next morning, Palmer and her partner, 40-year-old Darren Cole, had disappeared along with the children.

After exhausting initial local leads, police issued an Amber Alert that quickly spread across the province and into neighboring regions. The alert described the children, the adults believed to have abducted them, and the dark-colored SUV they were last seen traveling in. The alert prompted hundreds of tips and sightings, though many turned out to be false alarms.

For over 24 hours, the children’s safety remained uncertain. Law enforcement agencies coordinated efforts across provincial borders, working with Alberta RCMP and utilizing surveillance, vehicle tracking systems, and roadside checkpoints. Meanwhile, the children’s father, who has full legal custody, made a public plea for their safe return. “All I want is my children back safe,” he said through tears during a televised statement. “Please, Jessica, bring them home. This isn’t the way.”

That plea went unanswered, but late Thursday afternoon, a breakthrough came. RCMP officers in Brooks, Alberta, acting on a tip from a member of the public who recognized the vehicle from news reports, located the SUV parked outside a motel. Officers quickly moved in, finding the children inside a room with Palmer and Cole. The children were unharmed and appeared to be in good physical health, though both were shaken by the ordeal.

Paramedics were called to the scene as a precaution, and the children were taken to a nearby medical center for evaluation before being placed in the care of Alberta child protection services. Authorities confirmed that arrangements were underway to reunite them with their father, who was en route to Alberta when he received the news.

Meanwhile, Palmer and Cole were arrested without incident. They now face multiple charges, including abduction in contravention of a custody order, failure to provide the necessities of life, and obstructing police. Investigators allege that Palmer and Cole planned to flee the province to prevent the children from being returned to their father, even contemplating a longer-term relocation that could have taken them outside of Canada.

Court documents reveal a history of contentious legal battles between Palmer and the children’s father. While details are sealed to protect the identities of the children, sources close to the case indicate that Palmer had previously lost primary custody due to concerns over stability and repeated breaches of court agreements. Cole, who does not have any legal or familial relationship to the children, had a prior criminal record involving fraud and resisting arrest.

In a statement released Friday morning, the Surrey RCMP said, “While we are thankful that the children are safe, we are deeply concerned by the deliberate and calculated actions of the adults involved. Amber Alerts are tools of last resort. They are issued when we believe children are in imminent danger, and this case met that threshold.”

The case has sparked renewed debate about the use of Amber Alerts and the broader challenges of family law enforcement. Some advocates are calling for better preventative mechanisms to enforce custody agreements, suggesting that more proactive monitoring could have prevented the escalation. Others have highlighted the effectiveness of the alert system, noting that public awareness and citizen vigilance played a pivotal role in the children’s safe recovery.

For now, the children are undergoing support services to help them process the traumatic events. A family services spokesperson confirmed that child psychologists and trauma counselors are involved. “The children have experienced a high-stress, confusing situation involving people they love and trust. It’s critical that their emotional and psychological well-being is addressed in the coming days and weeks.”

Jessica Palmer and Darren Cole appeared in court via video link Friday afternoon, where prosecutors outlined the seriousness of the charges. The judge ordered both held in custody pending a bail hearing scheduled for early next week. Legal experts suggest the charges could carry significant jail time if convicted, especially given the cross-provincial nature of the abduction.

The children’s father, whose name is being withheld to protect the identities of the minors, expressed gratitude to law enforcement, volunteers, and the community members who helped share the Amber Alert. “My kids are safe. That’s all that matters to me. But I hope this never happens to another family. No parent should have to live through the nightmare of not knowing where their children are.”

Back in Surrey, neighbors and local residents have rallied around the family. Support has poured in through social media and community organizations, with several local businesses offering services and resources to the children’s family free of charge. A community vigil originally planned to raise awareness of the missing children has now turned into a celebration of their safe return.

Still, questions remain about how Palmer and Cole were able to evade authorities for over a day despite being under court scrutiny. Law enforcement officials acknowledge there will be a full review of the events leading up to the Amber Alert to determine if improvements to the system can be made. “This case had a good outcome, but we can always learn from it,” said an RCMP spokesperson.

As legal proceedings continue and the children begin the long journey toward healing, one thing is clear: the coordinated response from law enforcement and the vigilance of the public were instrumental in bringing this situation to a safe conclusion. Yet the emotional toll it took on all involved underscores just how high the stakes are when a child goes missing — and how quickly a custody dispute can spiral into something far more dangerous.