Abdul Aziz Khan, Kidnapped in 2017, Found Safe After 7 Years
A young boy, kidnapped seven years ago, has been found safe in Colorado. Abdul Aziz Khan, 14, was abducted by his mother, Rabia Khalid, in 2017 amid a bitter custody dispute. His discovery came on February 23, 2024, after a burglary investigation led police to him.
How Abdul Aziz Khan Was Found
The breakthrough came when deputies responded to a report of a burglary at a home in Douglas County, Colorado. Upon arriving, officers found two children in a car outside the property. Two adults—later identified as Rabia Khalid, 40, and her partner Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42—were spotted leaving the scene.
Initially, the adults claimed to be working as realtors, but their story quickly unraveled during the investigation. After hours of verification, deputies confirmed one of the children was Abdul Aziz Khan, who had been missing since 2017.
Arrests Made and Charges Filed
Both Khalid and Bourgeois were arrested on serious charges, including felony kidnapping, identity theft, forgery, and trespassing. The sheriff's office set their bonds at $1 million each.
Abdul Aziz Khan was taken into protective custody, with his family expressing overwhelming relief and gratitude. The identity of the second child in the car was not disclosed.
Family’s Emotional Response
In a heartfelt statement, Khan's family expressed their joy at his safe return: “We’re overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found. We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years.” They specifically praised the Douglas County Sheriff's Office for their diligence in solving the case.
Sheriff Darren Weekly also commended his deputies, saying, “Our deputies’ ability 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.”
Background of the Kidnapping and Custody Dispute
The abduction was the result of a long-running custody dispute between Abdul Aziz Khan’s parents. After Khalid failed to attend a custody hearing in November 2017, she fled with her son and new husband, Bourgeois. The U.S. Marshals Office had been searching for the pair ever since.
Khalid had moved with her son from New Orleans to Atlanta, Georgia, in 2014, where tensions over the custody battle grew. According to authorities, Khalid had been set to lose custody of Abdul, prompting her to flee with him.
Ongoing Legal Efforts and Recovery
The recovery of Abdul Aziz Khan is the result of a dedicated seven-year search. U.S. Marshal Enix Smith III for the Eastern District of Louisiana thanked Colorado authorities for their role in the breakthrough, stating, "This significant development follows a lengthy seven-year search. I extend my sincere gratitude to all involved in the recovery effort.”
The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children issued a statement, quoting John Bischoff III, Vice President of the Missing Children Division: “The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children has worked closely with law enforcement and Aziz’s family since his disappearance, always believing he could be found. In family abduction cases, it can be difficult to garner public attention, but we knew that national media coverage was crucial—Aziz could have been anywhere. Thanks to the deputies’ keen instincts and the attention of both law enforcement and the public, Aziz is now safe. We know family reunifications can be challenging. As Aziz and his family reconnect and heal, NCMEC will continue to support them.”
The investigation continues, but Abdul Aziz Khan is now reunited with his family after years of uncertainty and heartache.
