Discovery in Colorado leads to arrest of mother and stepfather on kidnapping charges
A missing Georgia teenager who vanished seven years ago has been found safe in Colorado, leading to the arrest of his mother and stepfather on kidnapping charges.
Fourteen-year-old Abdul Aziz Khan was reported missing in November 2017 after his mother, Rabia Khalid, failed to appear for a scheduled custody hearing.
The case, which was recently featured on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries, was unexpectedly solved when Colorado authorities responded to a separate burglary report.
A routine call uncovers a long-missing child
On February 23, deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were called to a home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, after the homeowner reported a possible break-in through his security cameras.
Upon arrival, officers discovered two adults inside the home and two children waiting in a vehicle outside.
The two adults—Khalid, 40, and her husband, Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42—claimed to be real estate workers, but inconsistencies in their statements raised suspicion.
Further investigation led to the shocking revelation that one of the children in the car was Abdul Aziz Khan, who had been missing for nearly seven years.
Authorities and family react to emotional reunion
Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly praised the deputies for their diligence.
“What started as a routine trespass call quickly turned into the recovery of a missing child,” Weekly said. “Our deputies’ sharp attention to detail and determination helped uncover the truth.”
Aziz’s relatives were overwhelmed with relief after U.S. Marshals informed them of his rescue.
“We’re overjoyed that Aziz has finally been found. Thank you to everyone who supported us over the past seven years,” the family said in a statement.
The National Center for Missing and Exploited Children also commended the deputies for their quick thinking and persistence.
Mother and stepfather face multiple charges
Khalid and Bourgeois were arrested and charged with kidnapping, identity theft, forgery, providing false information to authorities, and trespassing. Their bail has been set at $1 million each.
Meanwhile, Aziz and the second child have been placed in protective custody, with a court set to determine their next steps.