BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Nearly eight months after 1-year-old Kahleb Collins was last seen alive in Fayette County, his mother, Wendy Pamela Bailey, has been formally indicted on multiple charges, including aggravated child abuse, domestic violence, and abuse of a corpse. The indictment follows an ongoing investigation in which police believe Kahleb is likely dead, although his body has yet to be recovered.
Bailey, 23, was indicted by a grand jury on one count of aggravated child abuse, four counts of first-degree domestic violence, and abuse of a corpse. The charges stem from allegations that Bailey subjected her son to repeated and severe physical abuse. According to the grand jury, Bailey’s actions were deliberate and involved cruel treatment of Kahleb over an extended period. Reports indicate that the young boy was bound to a chair using cable ties, suspended from the ceiling, and physically struck.
The abuse allegedly occurred on multiple occasions, and prosecutors suggest that Bailey not only failed to intervene but may have been complicit in the abuse, further exacerbating the severity of the situation. The grand jury’s findings also include a charge of abuse of a corpse, with Bailey accused of treating her son’s remains in a manner that would “outrage ordinary family sensibilities.”
Kahleb Collins was last seen on September 9, 2024. However, his disappearance was not reported until much later, following a tragic car crash that claimed the lives of his father, Steven Collins, and his 2-year-old sister, Ryleigh, on December 9, 2024. Wendy Bailey, who was critically injured in the crash, was taken to UAB Hospital for treatment. It was not until December 30, 2024, that Bailey was arrested and charged.
In addition to Wendy Bailey, her father, John Bailey, has also been indicted on similar charges. John Bailey faces one count of aggravated child abuse, four counts of first-degree domestic violence, abuse of a corpse, and first-degree hindering prosecution. Prosecutors have suggested that John Bailey may have been complicit in the abuse and covered up the crime, adding another layer of complexity to the case.
The indictment of both Wendy and John Bailey brings attention to the disturbing nature of this case, in which a young child is believed to have endured unimaginable suffering. The investigation has raised questions about how the abuse went unnoticed for so long, and how authorities failed to intervene before it escalated to such tragic consequences.
Both Wendy and John Bailey are scheduled for arraignment on August 8, 2025. As the legal proceedings continue, local authorities and the community await further developments in the case, as they seek justice for young Kahleb Collins.
This case remains under investigation, and more details are expected to emerge as the trial progresses.
