Get notified by email when this case is updated.
Written by: A. Smith
Published March 7, 2025 @ 11:18 AM ET
FULTON COUNTY, Ga. – A 14-year-old boy who was reportedly kidnapped in Atlanta seven years ago has been found in Colorado, authorities confirmed.
Officials say the child was located after Douglas County deputies responded to a burglary call at a vacant home in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, on February 23. The investigation led to the arrests of Khan’s non-custodial mother, Rabia Khalid, and her husband, Elliot Blake Bourgeois, who are now facing multiple felony charges, including second-degree kidnapping.
The child was reported missing on November 27, 2017, when Khalid failed to appear at a custody hearing in Atlanta. Authorities say she and Bourgeois fled with the then-7-year-old, disappearing without a trace.
“They did not show up at work one day, just out of the blue,” Deputy U.S. Marshal Fair told the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC). “They fell off the map.”
For more than seven years, NCMEC and law enforcement officials searched for the child, with the case remaining unsolved until last month.
According to reports, deputies were called to a vacant home in Highlands Ranch following reports of a burglary in progress. Upon arrival, officers encountered two adults near the property and found two children in a vehicle parked in the driveway.
The adults initially claimed they were associated with a real estate agent, but authorities identified them as Khalid and Bourgeois. The now-14-year-old boy and another unidentified child were taken into protective custody.
Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly praised the deputies for their vigilance in uncovering the truth behind what initially appeared to be a routine trespassing call.
“Our deputies responded to what initially seemed like a routine trespass call, but through sharp attention to detail and tenacity, they uncovered the truth,” Weekly said. “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.”
Khalid and Bourgeois have been charged with second-degree kidnapping, forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities, and trespassing.
Khan’s family expressed relief and gratitude following his recovery.
“We’re overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found,” the family said in a statement. “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.”
Authorities have not disclosed further details regarding the child’s current condition or where he will be placed moving forward.
Their bond has been set at $1 million each.