A 14-year-old boy from Georgia, who was featured on Netflix’s Unsolved Mysteries after disappearing seven years ago, has been found safe in Colorado.
Abdul Aziz Khan vanished from his Atlanta home on November 27, 2017, when he was just seven years old. Authorities had long suspected his mother, Rabia Khalid, of abducting him after she failed to appear for a scheduled custody hearing that same day, the Daily Mail reports.
The breakthrough in the case came on February 23, 2025, when deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Colorado responded to a burglary in progress in Highlands Ranch.
Upon arrival, they found Khalid, 40, and her husband, Elliot Blake Bourgeois, 42, inside a home listed for sale. The couple initially claimed they were associated with the realtors, but deputies quickly noticed inconsistencies in their story.
As officers investigated further, they discovered two children in a vehicle parked outside the home. One of them was identified as Abdul Aziz Khan, marking the end of a years-long search.
Douglas County Sheriff Darren Weekly commended his deputies for their efforts, stating, “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 years.”
Aziz’s family, who had never given up hope, expressed their overwhelming relief upon learning he was safe. In a statement, they said, “We’re overwhelmed with joy that Aziz has been found and is finally coming home.”
Both children discovered at the scene were placed in protective custody while authorities worked to determine their future care.
Khalid and Bourgeois were arrested and charged with multiple offenses, including second-degree kidnapping, forgery, and identity theft. They are currently being held on a $1 million bond each and are set to appear in court for a preliminary hearing on March 27, 2025.
This case highlights the crucial role media attention can play in missing persons investigations. The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children emphasized how difficult it can be to garner public attention for family abduction cases but noted that national media coverage was instrumental in keeping Aziz’s case in the public eye.
Law enforcement officials praised the collaborative efforts that led to the teen’s safe recovery, ensuring that a years-long mystery has finally come to a close.
