UPDATED: Amber Alert, Statement from Family of Aurora, Joshuah Bolton
By Contributor
Surrey RCMP issued an Amber Alert Wednesday, July 19, 2023, for Aurora Bolton and Joshuah Bolton, who left Surrey, BC, in the care of their mother on June 28, 2023, for a planned camping trip.
RCMP said they were due to return to their father, who is their primary guardian on July 17, but did not return and were reported missing the following day.
Through the investigation, police made a determination that there was an imminent risk to the safety and well-being of Aurora and Joshuah and an Amber ALERT was issued.
When the AMBER Alert was issued on July 19, the last known sighting was on June 30 in Kelowna, BC.
Since that time investigators have been able to piece together a timeline of confirmed sightings, including:
On July 7, 2023 Verity, Aurora and Joshuah were confirmed to be travelling through the Merritt area. This is the last confirmed sighting of the children. Through video surveillance from a gas station in Merritt, police have also confirmed they were travelling with a large travel trailer (see picture). Police have learned they are likely travelling with two additional males – Verity’s father, Robert Bolton age 74 and Verity’s boyfriend, Abraxas Glazov, age 53.
On July 15, investigators confirmed that Verity Bolton was in Kamloops, BC, grocery shopping. Based on a review of the video surveillance, the children were not seen in the store. At that time Verity Bolton was dressed all in all black, wearing a black baseball cap and black sunglasses.
Police released images of the truck and trailer, which is described as a white bumper pull horse trailer being towed by a dirty dark blue 2012 Dodge Ram 2500, British Columbia license plate SJ2708.
The Surrey RCMP Serious Crime Unit has assumed conduct of the investigation and is actively liaising with all partner agencies. Investigators are following up on all tips received and continue to pursue all possible investigative avenues to bring Aurora and Joshuah home safely. Anyone who knows the current whereabouts of Aurora or Joshuah is asked to call 911.
Aurora and Joshuah’s immediate family is asking for their privacy, but have asked us to relay this message on their behalf.
“Our family would like to thank the RCMP for their ceaseless efforts as well as the public, who are sharing the AMBER Alert and have been calling in with tips. Our entire family is devastated by recent events. We ask everyone if they could continue to be vigilant in looking for Josh and Aurora, who we miss greatly and hope they will be returned home safe very soon. Our family is respectfully asking for privacy at this time.”
RCMP have confirmed that they were travelling with a large travel trailer.
