Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

A boy was kidnapped in Atlanta 7 years ago. Now, cops say they found him alive in Colorado and arrested two suspects

Rabia Khalid took off with her Abdul Aziz Khan after it appeared his father was going to get full custody, authorities said

Kelly Rissman
in New York
Wednesday 05 March 2025 18:47 GMT
Abdul Aziz Khan was abducted by his mother when he was 7 years old in Atlanta, cops say. Seven years later, he was found safe in Colorado
Abdul Aziz Khan was abducted by his mother when he was 7 years old in Atlanta, cops say. Seven years later, he was found safe in Colorado (Douglas County Sheriff's Office)

A 7-year-old boy was allegedly kidnapped by his mother in Atlanta in 2017 — now he’s been found safe across the country seven years later.

Abdul Aziz Khan, now 14, was found in Denver, years after his non-custodial mother allegedly kidnapped him in November 2017, Colorado authorities said.

The discovery was made on February 23, when the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office reported to a home up-for-sale in Highlands Ranch, Colorado, to investigate a burglary in progress.

Deputies came across a vehicle holding “several identifications” as well as two children. When officers approached the child in the driveway, the child “immediately called the two people inside” leading authorities to believe he had been “coached on what to say” if he came into contact with law enforcement,” Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly said.

A man and woman exited the house, claiming to be associated with a realtor. After four hours of questioning, investigators identified the woman as Rabia Khalid, 40 - theKhan’s mom - who had an active warrant for kidnapping.

Abdul Aziz Khan was abducted by his mother when he was 7 years old in Atlanta, cops say. Seven years later, he was found safe in Colorado
Abdul Aziz Khan was abducted by his mother when he was 7 years old in Atlanta, cops say. Seven years later, he was found safe in Colorado (Douglas County Sheriff's Office)

In Louisiana in 2017, she made accusations against the child’s father. Those charges had been dismissed and she left with her child after it appeared his father was going to get full custody, Weekly said at the press conference.

It’s not immediately clear if the boy knew he had been kidnapped, Weekly said.

The biological father hasn’t seen Khan for nine years, Weekly said: “This is the only life that Aziz has known so it is going to take some time.”

Khalid and her husband Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42, were arrested on charges including second-degree kidnapping, forgery, identity theft, providing false information to authorities and trespassing.

Rabia Khalid, 40, and Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42, were charged with kidnapping, forgery, identity theft and other counts after Khalid allegedly abducted her son seven years ago
Rabia Khalid, 40, and Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42, were charged with kidnapping, forgery, identity theft and other counts after Khalid allegedly abducted her son seven years ago (Douglas County Sheriff's Office)

He faces 14 charges and she faces nine, said George Brauchler, district attorney for Colorado’s 23rd district. They are each being held at Douglas County Jail on $1 million bond.

It’s not clear how long the couple were in Colorado or what led them to the state, but authorities believe they have traveled all over the country.

Both children in the car seemed to be healthy and no harm appeared to have been done to them, Weekly said.

Khan’s family is asking for privacy at this time.

“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,” the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children said in a statement Wednesday released on behalf of the child’s family.

An investigation into the incident is ongoing, the sheriff’s office said.

The preliminary hearing is scheduled for March 27.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in