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 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.
According to the sheriff’s office, a homeowner reported seeing two people enter their vacant home, which was listed for sale, on security cameras.
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 suspects.
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.
-
Rabia Khalid, 40, was arrested in Douglas County on several charges including second-degree kidnapping. As a non-custodial parent, she is accused of taking her son in 2017. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office) -
Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42, was arrested in Douglas County on several charges including kidnapping after a 14-year-old boy who went missing in 2017 was located. (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
Detectives were also able to identify the teen found in the vehicle as Khan.
Khalid had previously been accused of abducting Khan from Atlanta in November 2017. Authorities said she was a non-custodial parent at the time, and a warrant was issued for her arrest in 2020.
The U.S. Marshals Service had been working to locate Khalid and Khan.
Aziz and the second child, whose identity was not shared by authorities, were taken into protective custody.
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.
“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.
