DA's Office Investigating Case Of Missing 1-Year-Old In Fayette County

TUSCALOOSA, AL — The 24th Judicial Circuit's District Attorney's Office said Thursday it is assisting the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation with their ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of a missing 1-year-old boy.

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As Patch previously reported, Kahleb Rowan Collins has not been seen since September, which law enforcement found out after a fatal crash last week in Fayette County killed his father and 2-year-old sister, while leaving his mother in critical condition.

What's more, it was widely reported Wednesday that the child's grandfather, 55-year-old John Elton Bailey, has been charged with failure to report a missing child.

24th Judicial Circuit District Attorney Andy Hamlin said the case has been the top priority of all agencies involved since the crash 11 days ago.

"During that time, we have made a great deal of progress in the investigation and expect to release further information in the upcoming days," Hamlin said. "We are aware of the high public interest in this case and appreciate the community's concern. In cases like this, we must carefully balance transparency with the need to protect the integrity of a very active and complex investigation. We ask the public to be cautious about unverified information circulating on social media."

Hamlin went on to say that his office will provide updates to the public as soon as possible.

As Patch previously reported, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office says the accident occurred on Monday, Dec. 9, on Fayette County Road 73 near the Glen Allan community, resulting in the deaths of 40-year-old Steven Bradley Collins and 2-year-old Ryleigh Collins.

The mother of the 2-year-old, whose father is now charged in connection to the missing child, was also an occupant of the vehicle and is hospitalized in critical condition.

The day following the crash, law enforcement was also notified that the couple involved had another child that was unaccounted for. The Fayette County Sheriff's Office then said the missing child was identified as 1-year-old Kahleb.

An Emergency Missing Child Alert was also issued Tuesday by the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency.

The alert said Kahleb was last seen on Sept. 4 in Fayette County.

Those with information that could assist in the investigation are asked to contact the Fayette County Sheriff's Office at (205) 932- 3205, the ABI at (334) 676-7894 or the DA's office at (205) 367-9915.

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