The discovery of a one-year-old boy’s remains in a burn pile at his family’s home in Fayette County, Alabama, has brought a tragic end to a months-long search that began with a devastating car crash. Kahleb Collins, reported missing after the December 8, 2024, wreck that claimed the lives of his father, Steven Bradley Collins, and two-year-old sister, Ryleigh Collins, is believed to have been dead for months, authorities confirmed. The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office announced on Thursday that human remains, found in a burn pile at the family’s residence on Highway 129 near Winfield, are presumed to be those of the toddler. Sheriff Byron Yerby, in a statement that resonated with grief, described the find as a heartbreaking outcome, emphasizing the community’s shared responsibility to protect its most vulnerable.
The investigation into Kahleb’s disappearance began under harrowing circumstances. On December 8, a 2020 Toyota Tacoma driven by Steven Collins veered off Fayette County 73 at an estimated 92 miles per hour, crashing into a tree. Neither Steven, 40, nor his wife, Wendy “Pam” Bailey, 23, wore seatbelts. Their daughter, Ryleigh, unrestrained in the backseat, was pronounced dead at the scene. Steven succumbed to his injuries the following day, while Wendy, critically injured, was airlifted to UAB Hospital in Birmingham. It was only after the crash, prompted by an out-of-state family member’s inquiry, that authorities realized Kahleb, the couple’s one-year-old son, was unaccounted for. The Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued an emergency missing child alert on December 17, noting the boy had not been seen since September 4, 2024.
As investigators descended on the family’s property, a grim picture emerged. Court documents revealed allegations of severe abuse predating Kahleb’s disappearance. Wendy Bailey, released from the hospital on December 30, was arrested and charged with aggravated child abuse, first-degree domestic violence, abuse of a corpse, and criminally negligent homicide in connection with Ryleigh’s death. Her father, John Elton Bailey, 55, who lived with the family, was arrested on December 11 for failing to report a missing child. A Fayette County grand jury, on April 15, 2025, issued indictments against both, adding charges of aggravated child abuse, four counts of first-degree domestic violence, and corpse abuse. John Bailey also faces a charge of hindering prosecution.
The indictments detailed a pattern of horrific mistreatment. Wendy Bailey allegedly failed to intervene on multiple occasions when Kahleb was subjected to torturous abuse, including being bound with rope, physically assaulted, and suspended from a loft. Text messages from Steven Collins to Wendy, sent in July 2024, included photographs of Kahleb bloodied and bruised, accompanied by chilling messages such as, “He want move,” followed by, “He moving.” Wendy’s response, dismissing the injuries as exhaustion, underscored her alleged indifference. Court records further stated that, after Kahleb’s death, his body was placed in a bag, stored briefly in an outdoor shed, and disposed of at an unknown location—until the recent discovery in the burn pile.
Sheriff Yerby, withholding specifics on when the remains were found, confirmed that an anthropologist identified them as human. The evidence has been sent for forensic analysis to verify Kahleb’s identity. The cause of the toddler’s death remains undisclosed, though the sheriff’s office vowed to pursue justice relentlessly. Both Wendy and John Bailey, held in Fayette County Jail with bonds set at $1.8 million each, face a court hearing scheduled for August 7, 2025. Prosecutors are seeking to deny bail under Aniah’s Law, citing the violent nature of the charges.
The case has left the tight-knit Fayette County community reeling. Residents, expressing anguish and frustration over court delays, have rallied for answers. Local voices, like Rebecca Driver, a Fayette County resident, articulated a collective yearning for closure, saying the tragedy underscores the urgency of prioritizing children’s welfare. As the investigation continues, the discovery of Kahleb’s remains, while providing a measure of resolution, deepens the sorrow surrounding a family torn apart by violence and loss. Sheriff Yerby’s words linger as a call to action, urging vigilance to ensure no child suffers such a fate again.