A Louisiana boy, who was kidnapped in Atlanta in 2017, was discovered by deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office when responding to a burglary call last month.
Abdul Aziz Khan, who is now 14 years old, was found safe and sound in a Highlands Ranch subdivision on February 23rd. This comes after a period of over seven years since his family last saw him.
Deputies discovered Khan and another unidentified young boy in the presence of Rabia Khalid, 40, who was apprehended on a warrant for kidnapping. Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42, was also arrested alongside Khalid on charges of kidnapping.
They are currently being held on a bond of $1 million each.
According to the sheriff’s office and the U.S. Marshals Service, Khalid, who is Aziz Khan’s non-custodial mother, is accused of kidnapping her son in November 2017 after a custody dispute with the father.
“We are filled with immense joy upon learning that Aziz has been located,” expressed Khan’s family in a heartfelt statement. “We extend our heartfelt gratitude to all those who have supported us throughout these past seven years.”
According to the statement, Khan’s family has requested privacy in order to “move forward as a family and heal together.”
Children discovered after a five-hour interaction
On February 23rd, at approximately 3:37 p.m., deputies from Douglas County swiftly responded to a report of a burglary at a residence situated on Kelliwood Way in Highlands Ranch.
According to officials from the sheriff’s office, two individuals unlawfully trespassed onto a vacant property that was currently listed for sale.
Upon their arrival, the deputies approached a vehicle parked in the driveway, where they found two children inside. Shortly after, Khalid and Bourgeois emerged from the house, stating that they were affiliated with a Realtor, as reported by the sheriff’s office.
According to officials, the deputies and dispatchers spent four hours working to confirm the identities of the individuals involved in the incident. During this time, it was discovered that the two individuals initially provided false names.
Deputies spent four to five hours interacting with Khalid before finally discovering her true identity. They were then able to arrest her on the felony kidnapping warrant.
During a news conference on Wednesday, Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly emphasized the critical role played by the vigilant homeowner who monitored their cameras and promptly reported the burglary. Sheriff Weekly stated that without the homeowner’s proactive actions, the discovery of Khan may not have occurred.
Both Khan and the unidentified boy are currently in good health and have been placed under the care of child protective services, as reported by Weekly.
During the investigation, the U.S. Marshals Service provided assistance. According to a spokesperson, the department conducted searches in 11 different states.
According to Weekly, it is still unclear what brought Khalid and Khan to Colorado. The investigation is ongoing, and many details have yet to be uncovered.
The Kenner Police Department has joined forces with Douglas County authorities to carry out a comprehensive investigation.
Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley expressed his pride in the collaborative efforts of law enforcement in bringing resolution and closure to the affected family.
Bourgeois is currently facing a total of 14 charges, out of which 12 are felonies. These charges include kidnapping, forgery, and identity theft. On the other hand, Khalid is facing nine charges, with seven of them being felonies. The charges against Khalid are related to conspiracy to kidnap, as she is the biological parent of the victim, as stated by Colorado 23rd Judicial District Attorney George Brauchler.
“Our team is fully committed to supporting his family as they face a challenging road ahead,” Weekly expressed. “Throughout this journey, we will stand by them every step of the way, offering guidance and assistance. Our sincere wish is for them to discover solace and optimism throughout the upcoming days, weeks, months, and even years.”
The kidnapping of Khan gained national attention.
The national spotlight on Khan’s kidnapping garnered praise and appreciation from authorities. The incident gained significant attention when it was featured in “Unsolved Mysteries Volume 3: Abducted by a Parent” on Netflix.
Khalid’s journey to Atlanta is detailed in the documentary, as it explores her life following a divorce from her husband, Abdul Khan, in 2015. After making allegations of abuse, Khan was prohibited from seeing his son, Aziz, for over 18 months. As a result, it has been nine years since Abdul Khan last laid eyes on his son.
Khalid ultimately chose to pursue a relationship with Bourgeois, a college friend, as revealed in the documentary.
According to family members featured in the documentary, Abdul Khan was able to obtain full custody of his son after evidence of the false abuse allegations came to light. They revealed that the abduction took place just before the father’s custody hearing on November 28, 2017.
Sheriff Weekly expressed his curiosity about the number of law enforcement contacts these individuals had before his deputies could uncover the full extent of their activities.
Aziz Khan has not yet been able to fully reunite with his family, as shared by Weekly. They reported that he had an emotional conversation with his family in his office on Tuesday.
Abdul Khan confidently expressed in the documentary his belief that one day, Aziz will walk through a door and find him waiting on the other side.