Authorities in Alabama have confirmed that 1-year-old Kahleb Collins is presumed dead months after his disappearance, which went unnoticed until a tragic car crash claimed the lives of his father and 2-year-old sister.
Kahleb was last seen in Winfield, Alabama, on September 4, but his absence wasn’t reported until after the fatal crash on December 8.
In a shocking revelation, Alabama law enforcement officials announced that they had only learned about Kahleb’s disappearance after the crash, which killed his father, 40-year-old Steven Bradley Collins, and his younger sister, RyLeigh.
The car, driven by Steven, was reportedly speeding at twice the limit before the crash occurred. The children were not wearing seatbelts at the time, and the accident led to critical injuries for the mother, 22-year-old Wendy Jean Bailey, who was hospitalized.
As authorities investigated, they discovered that Kahleb had been missing for months.
It was revealed that his mother, Wendy, had not reported him missing, and his grandfather, John Elton Bailey, was arrested for allegedly failing to notify authorities about the boy’s disappearance.
Wendy Bailey now faces several charges, including abuse of a corpse, aggravated child abuse, domestic violence, and criminally negligent homicide, with the homicide charge specifically tied to the death of her daughter, RyLeigh.
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The announcement of Kahleb’s presumed death came after investigators found evidence suggesting that he had likely suffered serious bodily harm or death before the crash.
Authorities believe the child was removed from the home and taken to an unknown location. Although Kahleb’s body has not been found, a search is ongoing to locate his remains.
This heartbreaking case has left many questioning the circumstances surrounding Kahleb’s disappearance and the tragic loss of his father and sister.
A neighbor who knew the family shared that while they were aware of Kahleb’s existence, they had never seen him.
The parents reportedly claimed the child was ill, with Steven posting on social media about Kahleb’s health struggles, including major back issues and a need for future surgery.
Authorities continue to investigate the details of the case as they search for Kahleb’s remains and await further legal proceedings for those involved.