A 14-year-old boy who had been missing for the past seven years was found in late February in Colorado, the Douglas County Sheriff’s Department announced on Wednesday.The case, which had been featured in Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries, finally reached a resolution on Feb. 23 when Abdul Aziz Khan was found. He had been missing since Nov. 17, 2017.
Discovery in Colorado
Police were alerted when a homeowner in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, reported a possible burglary or trespassing incident at approximately 3:37 p.m. The house was for sale, but surveillance footage showed two individuals entering through the back.When deputies arrived, they found a vehicle parked in the driveway with two children inside. Shortly after, two adults—a man and a woman—exited the house and identified themselves as “associates to the realtor,” according to Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly.Suspicious of the situation, deputies continued questioning the pair. The man presented an ID belonging to a deceased person, while the woman claimed she had no form of identification. A quick fingerprint scan revealed the woman to be 40-year-old Rabia Khalid—Abdul’s mother—who had an active kidnapping warrant.”Once Rabia was identified, we realized we had a possible kidnapping case here,” Sheriff Weekly said. “Our deputies separated the adults and began investigating the situation further.”
Arrests and Charges
Authorities identified the man as 42-year-old Elliot Blake Bourgeois, Khalid’s husband but not Abdul’s father. Both Khalid and Bourgeois were arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping, forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities, and trespassing.Meanwhile, both children were taken into protective custody. The younger child’s identity has not been disclosed, and the court will determine where the children will be placed.”The deputies got them food and watched Blue’s Clues at a neighbor’s house to keep them comfortable and calm while we conducted the investigation,” Weekly said.Sheriff Weekly praised his team for their diligent work. “Over the last seven years, these two could have had multiple interactions with law enforcement. The fact that my deputies solved this mystery makes me extremely proud.”
Family’s Reaction and Custody Battle
Abdul’s family released a statement expressing gratitude:”We’re overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has finally been found. We want to thank everyone for their support over the last seven years. Now, as we navigate the next steps, we ask for privacy so that we can move forward as a family and heal together.”According to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, Abdul’s parents, Rabia Khalid and Abdul Khan, separated in 2014 and had been involved in a prolonged custody dispute.Shortly before the kidnapping, Khalid relocated from New Orleans to Atlanta with Abdul for a new job, making it harder for Abdul’s father to see his son. On Nov. 17, 2017, Khalid failed to appear for a custody hearing in Atlanta—and she and Abdul disappeared until this year.ABC News has reached out to the public defenders listed for Khalid and Bourgeois but has not yet received a response.
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