Missing 1-year-old Fayette Co. baby believed to be dead; Mother charged after his disappearance

FAYETTE COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC) - The mother of a 1-year-old boy who was found to be missing after his parents were involved in a vehicle crash has been charged following his disappearance and the death of his 2-year-old sister.

According to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Steven Collins and his 2-year-old daughter Ryleigh were killed when their 2020 Toyota Tacoma left the roadway and struck a tree on the morning of Dec. 8. The crash happened on Fayette County 73 near Morris Cemetery Road. It also sent the child’s mother, Wendy Bailey, to the hospital with critical injuries.

The sheriff’s office says the following day they learned the couple had another child, a 1-year-old boy, Kahleb Rowan Collins. Kahleb was not with his family at the time of the crash.

Over the course of the investigation, authorities said, “It is believed that Kahleb has been deceased for several months. His body has not been recovered, although law enforcement teams are still actively gathering information and searching for his remains.”

The District Attorney’s Office says 22-year-old Wendy Pamela Bailey is charged with aggravated child abuse (Class A felony), first-degree domestic violence (Class A felony), abuse of a corpse (Class C felony), and criminally negligent homicide (Class A misdemeanor).

The criminally negligent homicide charge, according to the District Attorney’s Office, is related to the death of Ryleigh, who they say was unrestrained in the vehicle Steven Collins was driving in the fatal crash.

Bailey was booked into the Fayette County Jail where she is awaiting a bond hearing. The state of Alabama says they intend to request the bond in this case to be denied pursuant to Anaih’s Law.

“This investigation has been particularly challenging as it involved the tragic deaths of two young children,” 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin said. “I want to commend the efforts and cooperation shown by every agency involved: the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office, Alabama Bureau of Investigation and the Alabama State Troopers. Now that the charges have been brought, I look forward to getting the case to court to seek justice for these two innocent children,” Hamlin said.

“Hopefully, we can start getting some answers,” said Kahleb Collins' uncle, Dwayne Collins, when asked by WBRC for comment.

The District Attorney’s Office says more charges are possible. The case remains under investigation.

Anyone with information is urged to contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at 205-932-3205, the State Bureau of Investigation at 1-800-392-8011 or the District Attorney’s Office at 205-367-9915.

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