FAYETTE COUNTY, Ala. (WBRC/Gray News) – The mother of a 1-year-old Alabama boy who was found to be missing after his parents were involved in a car crash has been charged following his disappearance and the death of his 2-year-old sister.
Steven Collins and his 2-year-old daughter, Ryleigh, were killed when their 2020 Toyota Tacoma left the roadway and hit a tree on the morning of Dec. 8, according to the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office. The crash on Fayette County 73 also sent the child’s mother, Wendy Pamela Bailey, to the hospital with critical injuries, WBRC reports.
The sheriff’s office says the following day, they learned the couple had another child, 1-year-old Kahleb Rowan Collins, who was not with his family at the time of the crash. In fact, he hadn’t been seen since Sept. 4.
After an investigation, authorities say they believe that Kahleb has been dead for several months.
“His body has not been recovered, although law enforcement teams are still actively gathering information and searching for his remains,” authorities said.
The district attorney’s office says 22-year-old Bailey is charged with aggravated child abuse, first-degree domestic violence, abuse of a corpse and criminally negligent homicide.
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 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 Aniah’s Law.
“This investigation has been particularly challenging as it involved the tragic deaths of two young children,” said 24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin. “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.”
In reaction to the charges, Kahleb’s uncle, Dwayne Collins, says he hopes the family can get some answers about the boy’s disappearance.
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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