Boy reportedly kidnapped from Atlanta 7 years ago found in Colorado; 2 arrested

DENVER (KDVR) — A 14-year-old boy who went missing seven years ago has been located just outside of Denver and two people have been arrested on kidnapping charges.

Abdul Aziz Khan was reportedly kidnapped from Atlanta in 2017 by his non-custodial mother. He was safely located located last month along with another younger child.

In late February, deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office were called to a home in Highlands Ranch, about 20 miles south of Denver, to investigate a reported burglary in progress.

The homeowner reported seeing two people enter their vacant home, which was listed for sale, on security cameras, according to the sheriff's department.

When deputies arrived at the home, they found two children in a vehicle parked in the driveway. The two suspects, a man and woman, exited the house and told deputies they were associated with the realtor. However, the sheriff's office said their story began to unravel as they worked for four hours to identify the couple.

The woman was identified as 40-year-old Rabia Khalid, who had an active warrant for kidnapping. The man was identified as 42-year-old Elliot Blake Bourgeois.

Detectives were also able to identify one of the children found in the vehicle as Khan.

Child went missing out of Georgia in 2017

Khalid had previously been accused of abducting Khan from Atlanta in November 2017.

Khan's family is from Louisiana, authorities said, but had moved from New Orleans to Atlanta when Khalid got a new job. According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, over time, Khalid reportedly made it difficult for Khan’s father to see the boy, and the parents entered a bitter custody battle.

Ahead of a custody hearing in November 2017, NCMEC said it was clear Khalid was about to lose custody of Khan. That's when she allegedly kidnapped the boy. In 2020, a warrant was issued for Khalid's arrest.

Video below: Authorities give update after boy missing for 7 years found in Colorado

The U.S. Marshals Service said Wednesday that it had searched for Khalid and Khan across 11 states. The boy's story also made national headlines and was covered by Netflix’s “Unsolved Mysteries.”

Aziz and the second child, whose identity was not shared by authorities, were taken into protective custody. They were described as being healthy during a Wednesday morning press conference.

Suspects facing multiple charges, including kidnapping

Khalid and Bourgeois were booked into the Douglas County Jail on charges of second-degree kidnapping, forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities and trespassing. Their bond was set at $1 million each.

During the Wednesday press conference, George Brauchler, the district attorney for Colorado’s 23rd Judicial District, said the suspects will face multiple charges. Brauchler said Bourgeois will face 14 charges and Khalid will face 9.

Khalid and Bourgeois’ preliminary hearing is set for March 27.

Family speaks out as law enforcement shares gratitude

“Our deputies responded to what initially seemed like a routine trespass call, but through sharp attention to detail and tenacity, they uncovered the truth. Their ability to recognize the discrepancies in the suspects' story and to follow the leads, even when the situation seemed unclear, ultimately led to the safe recovery of a child who had been missing for seven long years. I couldn’t be prouder of the work done by our team; this case highlights the commitment of our officers to seek justice and protect the most vulnerable. It’s a reminder of the incredible difference our work makes in the lives of those we serve,” said Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.

Khan's family also released a statement: "We’re overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found. We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years. We specifically want to recognize the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for their exceptional work in solving this case. Now, as we navigate the next steps, we ask for privacy so that we can move forward as a family and heal together.”

The investigation is still ongoing. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.