Warning: This article contains discussion of child abuse which some readers may find distressing.
A tragic car accident that led to the death of a father and his daughter has prompted authorities to scrutinize the absence of another child who was not present in the car.
Wendy Pamela Bailey sustained critical injuries in the collision in Alabama on December 9, 2024. Unfortunately, the accident resulted in the death of Steven Bradley Collins and his daughter, RyLeigh Denise Collins.
During the investigation, questions arose regarding the whereabouts of Bailey’s son, Kahleb Collins, who is one year old and was not in the car during the crash. According to a statement from the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA), Kahleb was last spotted in September 2024 in Winfield, Alabama.
The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office was alerted to Kahleb’s absence and initiated an investigation, uncovering some unsettling information.
Weeks following the crash, the sheriff’s office announced their belief that Kahleb is deceased, despite his body not being found.
“Law enforcement teams are still actively gathering information and searching for his remains,” a statement from the sheriff’s office indicated, adding their belief that Kahleb had been ‘deceased for some time before his disappearance was brought to the attention of law enforcement’.
In the midst of the investigation, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama State Bureau of Investigations charged Bailey, 22, with felony aggravated child abuse, felony first-degree domestic violence, and felony abuse of a corpse.
Additionally, the mother faces charges of criminally negligent homicide, a misdemeanor, concerning the death of Ryleigh, who was reportedly not wearing a seatbelt during the crash.
Kahleb’s grandfather, John Elton Bailey, has also been charged for not reporting Kahleb missing.
The charging documents referenced disturbing images shared by Collins that depicted Kahleb’s alleged abuse.
Collins reportedly threatened Bailey with Kahleb’s life.
These charges are the latest developments in the case concerning Kahleb, following a Facebook post by Collins in November claiming the young boy was ill and required surgery.
As reported by People, the post stated: “He is not growing and has major back issues. His organs are growing but not his body. Keep him in your prayers. Been rough and just seems going to be a long rough tough road ahead of us.”
The timeline presented by the police indicates that this post was made weeks after Kahleb was last seen.
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues or need to talk to someone confidentially about child welfare, the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline (1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453) is available 24/7 and accepts calls from the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.