Spokane, Wash. -- Bill Connington's hasn't seen his two sons since his ex-wife abducted them and fled 11 years ago.

This week, he got the call he's been waiting for.

On Tuesday night authorities in Pennsylvania called Connington and told him his boys - ages 17 and 15 - were found safe in Milton, where their mother had been living under an alias.

Police arrested Jill Diane Haugen, 48, on Tuesday. Police said Haugen was living under the name Ann Thompson.

Connington told authorities he was "absolutely surprised" as he'd thought he'd never see his sons again.

"I always had the hope -- I never gave that up," Connington said. "I thought I might never see them again."

After Haugen took off with the boys, who were in Connington's custody, a warrant for her arrest was issued in 1998.

A break in the case came when a social worker grew suspicious after the boys, who were recently placed into foster care, revealed details about their past. One of the boys told the social worker his real name, and a Web search of the name revealed that he was missing.

Connington first heard from investigators on Monday night.

"I turned white like a ghost. I just started shaking," he said. "I was just in awe. I didn't know what to think I was just told they found them and nothing else and to contact the detectives."

Haugen told investigators she is victim of domestic violence and her sons are victims of sexual abuse; however, police say there's no merit to her claims.

Detectives said Haugen will be extradited to Washington. And Connington hopes she spends time in jail for kidnapping his kids.

"I just want to see justice done," he said.

KXLY-TV in Spokane is a media partner of KOMO News.