Authorities have uncovered the incredible story of a boy who was missing for seven years, finally identifying him in a surprising turn of events.
Back in 2017, shortly after Thanksgiving, seven-year-old Abdul Aziz Khan disappeared from his Atlanta, Georgia home. His case remained unsolved for years, even being featured in an episode of Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries. However, on February 23 this year, Khan—now 14—was unexpectedly found.
His discovery came after a homeowner in Highlands Ranch, Denver, Colorado, reported a suspected break-in at a house listed for sale. Two deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office arrived at the scene, where they encountered two children standing in the driveway.
According to Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly, the deputies questioned the kids, who claimed their parents were inside with a realtor. One child called his mother on a cell phone, prompting two adults to emerge from the house.
As the deputies engaged with the adults, their suspicions grew. Sheriff Weekly noted that the officers felt something was off—both regarding the couple’s explanations and their true identities.
Rabia Khalid and Elliot Blake Bourgeois were charged with kidnapping (Douglas County Sheriff’s Office)
The woman initially claimed she had never possessed an identification card. However, after checking her fingerprints, authorities discovered she had an outstanding warrant for kidnapping.
The two adults were later identified as Elliot Blake Bourgeois and Rabia Khalid. The child who spoke to deputies turned out to be Abdul Aziz Khan, with Khalid revealed as his non-custodial mother.
Following their arrest, both individuals faced multiple charges, including kidnapping, fraud, identity theft, providing false information to authorities, and trespassing.
Despite the shocking discovery, Sheriff Weekly confirmed that Khan was in good health, with no immediate concerns regarding his upbringing. However, he acknowledged that the process of reuniting Khan with his father, Dr. Abdul Khan, would take time.
Expressing his pride in the case’s resolution, Sheriff Weekly stated: “It’s incredibly fulfilling to close this seven-year-long mystery and initiate the reunification process between Aziz and his father. It won’t happen overnight, but progress is being made.”
Khan’s family also issued a heartfelt statement through the sheriff’s office, expressing their gratitude:
“We are overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has been found at last. We want to thank everyone who has supported us over the past seven years, especially the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office for their exceptional work. As we move forward as a family, we kindly ask for privacy to heal together.”
An investigation into the circumstances of Khan’s disappearance and recovery remains ongoing, with a preliminary hearing scheduled for March 27.
