Introduction
A seven-year-long kidnapping case that once captured national attention, even making its way onto Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries, has finally come to an end. On February 23, 2025, 14-year-old Abdul Aziz Khan was found in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, bringing relief to his family and law enforcement officers who had been searching for him since 2017. His mother, Rabia Khalid, and her husband, Elliot Blake Bourgeois, have been arrested and charged with multiple crimes, including second-degree kidnapping and identity theft.
This shocking discovery sheds light on the complexities of custody disputes, the challenges of long-term missing person cases, and the persistence of law enforcement in bringing families back together.
Discovery of Abdul Aziz Khan
The case reached a breakthrough when Douglas County Sheriff’s deputies responded to a suspected burglary at a house for sale in Highlands Ranch. Surveillance footage captured two individuals entering the home through the back, prompting the property owner to alert the authorities.
Upon arrival, deputies found a car in the driveway with two children inside. Two adults, Khalid and Bourgeois, exited the house, claiming to be associates of the realtor. However, their inconsistent answers and suspicious behavior led officers to dig deeper.A fingerprint scan revealed Khalid’s true identity, linking her to an outstanding kidnapping warrant. Her husband, Bourgeois, was also identified and taken into custody after attempting to provide a fake driver’s license belonging to a deceased individual.
A Custody Dispute That Led to Kidnapping
The investigation revealed that Khalid had taken Abdul Aziz Khan in 2017 after failing to appear for a scheduled custody hearing in Atlanta. At the time, she and the boy’s father, Abdul Khan, had been engaged in a contentious custody battle.Khalid moved from New Orleans to Atlanta for work, which already made visitations difficult for Abdul Khan. However, after she disappeared with their son, authorities were left with few leads, and the case remained unresolved for years.Throughout this time, law enforcement agencies and organizations like the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children continued to search for Abdul, keeping his case in the public eye.
Reunion and Legal Proceedings
Following their arrests, Khalid and Bourgeois were charged with multiple offenses, including:
Second-degree kidnapping,Forgery and identity theft,Providing false information to authorities Trespassing.Both Abdul and the younger child found with them were placed in protective custody, and decisions regarding their future placement will be determined by the court. In the meantime, the boy’s biological father, Abdul Khan, has expressed relief and gratitude to law enforcement for their tireless efforts.
“We’re overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found,” the family said in a statement. “We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years. Now, as we navigate the next steps, we ask for privacy so that we can move forward as a family and heal together.”
Conclusion
This case underscores the devastating impact of family custody disputes and long-term missing persons cases. Thanks to the sharp instincts of Douglas County deputies, Abdul Aziz Khan’s story has taken a hopeful turn. As legal proceedings continue, his family now has the chance to reunite and rebuild after seven years of uncertainty.
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