On May 8, 2025, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office announced they had discovered human remains, which they believe are those of one-year-old Kahleb Collins.
He went missing last year, and his case led to a serious and disturbing criminal investigation.
The remains were found in a burn pile at the family’s home following an extensive search, as per WSAZ News.
According to police reports, forensic testing is still underway for official identification.
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| Kahleb Collins and his parents |
Kahleb was last seen on September 4, 2024, but no one reported his disappearance to law enforcement for months.
Authorities only discovered Kahleb was missing on December 8, 2024, after his family was involved in a horrific car crash.
The crash, which happened on Fayette County Road 73 near Morris Cemetery Road, killed Kahleb’s father, Steven Collins, and his two-year-old sister, Ryleigh.
The children’s mother, Wendy Bailey, survived with critical injuries, but was arrested after she left the hospital.
She was charged with criminally negligent homicide in the death of her 2-year-old daughter, who was not properly secured in a car seat when her father crashed into a tree.
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| Kahleb and his sister Ryleigh |
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| The aftermath of the crash |
When criminal investigators learned that the couple had another child—Kahleb—who was unaccounted for, an Emergency Missing Child Alert was issued on December 17, 2024.
During the investigation into Kahleb’s disappearance, detectives found disturbing evidence that pointed to foul play.
This led to more criminal charges against Wendy Bailey, and the arrest of her father, John Elton Bailey.
Wendy Bailey was indicted on charges of aggravated child abuse, domestic violence, and abuse of a corpse.
Her father, John Elton Bailey, was also charged with failing to report a missing person.
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| Wendy Bailey and her father John Elton Bailey |
According to court records, Kahleb was subjected to repeated physical abuse.
He was reportedly bound and suspended from a ceiling, and also restrained in a chair for long periods, as per WBRC.
Crime scene Investigators searched the Bailey family home multiple times over several months, but the search came up empty.
Thankfully in 2025, authorities finally found the remains in a burn pile on the property.
An anthropologist confirmed that the recovered material included human remains, which were then sent for forensic analysis.
Sheriff Byron Yerby made a somber statement to the public, acknowledging how heartbreaking the discovery was.
"This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who loved Kahleb. While this discovery brings a measure of closure, it is also a solemn reminder of the responsibility we all share in protecting our children,” said Sheriff Byron Yerby.
Forensic tests are still being done, but the discovery supports everyone's worst fear that Kahleb may have died.
Dwayne Collins, Kahleb’s uncle, had previously pleaded for answers, sharing the family's pain over the boy’s disappearance.
Now, with the remains recovered, the case shifts toward prosecution and the pursuit of justice.
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