The remains of a one-year-old Alabama boy, missing since last year, have been found in a burn pile near his family’s residence. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office confirmed on Thursday that the remains of Kahleb Collins, who had been missing for eight months, were discovered on his mother’s property. Wendy Pamela Bailey, the boy’s mother, is currently incarcerated on multiple felony charges.
The Sheriff’s Office had conducted several searches in the vicinity before the discovery of the burn pile, which seemed to contain human remains. An anthropologist was summoned to the scene and confirmed that the remains belonged to a human child. The remains were then sent to a forensic lab for official identification.
Kahleb was first reported missing following a fatal car accident in late 2024 that took the lives of his father, Steven Collins, and two-year-old sister, Ryleigh. The crash also left Bailey, a passenger in the car, with severe injuries. The accident occurred on December 8, 2024, on County Road 73 in Glen Allan, Alabama. Authorities reported that Collins was driving aggressively at speeds exceeding 90 mph on a wet road just before the crash. Ryleigh was not secured in a car seat at the time of the accident.
Following the tragic accident, authorities were informed that Collins and Bailey had another child, later identified as Kahleb, who was unaccounted for. The sheriff’s office promptly initiated an investigation into Kahleb’s whereabouts, enlisting the help of the 24th Circuit District Attorney’s Office and the Alabama State Bureau of Investigation.
The sheriff’s office released a statement saying, “Based on the results of this investigation, it is believed that [Kahleb] is deceased.” The statement also noted that Kahleb had not been seen alive since September 9, 2024. The investigation revealed that Kahleb may have been deceased for some time before his disappearance was reported to law enforcement following the fatal car crash.
John Bailey, Kahleb’s grandfather and legal guardian, was arrested on December 11, 2024, and charged with one count of failure to report a missing child. Both he and Wendy Bailey were indicted by a grand jury on additional charges last month. Wendy Bailey faces four counts of first-degree domestic violence, criminally negligent homicide, aggravated child abuse, and abuse of a corpse. John Bailey faces the same charges, plus an additional count of first-degree hindering prosecution.
Sheriff Byron Yerby expressed his condolences, stating, “This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who loved Kahleb.” He added that the discovery brings some closure but also serves as a stark reminder of the collective responsibility to protect children. The sheriff’s office remains committed to seeking justice in this case.