A missing toddler’s grandfather has been taken into custody three months after the child went missing. The arrest followed a tragic accident that claimed the lives of the father and sister of the toddler.
John Elton Bailey has been charged with failure to report a missing child over the disappearance of his grandson Khaleb Rowan Collins.
The grandfather, named Bailey, was apprehended on December 11, just three days after a devastating car collision that resulted in the deaths of his two-year-old granddaughter, RyLeigh, and her father, Steven Collins.
Wendy Bailey, his daughter, was critically hurt in the crash in Fayette County, Alabama.
Collins was driving at 92 miles per hour when he crashed into a tree, killing himself and his daughter, on December 8 at 10.24 am.
A responding State Trooper noted that the road was wet at the time and that Collins “was unable to operate his vehicle safely.”
During the collision, Collins was ejected from the vehicle due to the impact, while his daughter, who was not secured in a seatbelt in the backseat, tragically suffered fatal injuries.
Wendy Bailey was seated in the front passenger seat and was slightly ejected from the driver’s door, according to police records.
Now, in a further twist to the case, court records have accused Wendy’s father, John Elton Bailey, of failing to report a missing child.
The documents allege that Khaleb was last seen over three months ago, on September 4.
A criminal complaint states Bailey “failed to report a missing child by delaying to make or failing to cause to be made the report with willful and reckless disregard for the safety of the child and the child suffered serious bodily harm or death.”
Bailey was arrested on December 11 and remains held in the Fayette County Jail on $100,000 bond.
On Tuesday, December 17, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a missing alert for Khaleb.
John and Wendy Bailey lived together in Winfield, Alabama.
Crime tape was seen surrounding the home where Khaleb lived on Thursday morning as investigators searched the property.
Fayette County sheriff’s officials did not respond immediately to The U.S. Sun’s requests for comment.
Khaleb is still missing. He has blonde or strawberry hair and blue eyes.
STATEMENT ON KHALEB ROWAN COLLINS
Following the reported disappearance of Khaleb Rowan Collins, the Alabama District Attorney’s Office put out the following statement:
“The District Attorney’s Office is assisting the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation with their ongoing investigation into the whereabouts of Kahleb Collins.
“This case has been the top priority of all agencies involved since a vehicle crash brought his disappearance to our attention 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.
“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.
“We will provide updates to the public as soon as we are able and when it is appropriate to do so.”
Family members told WBRC say they’re struggling to try and get answers from anyone on where Khaleb is.
“Yes, we are worried,” said Khaleb’s great-aunt Katherine Chaplin.
“Supposedly, the baby is at a friend’s house, we don’t know who, a family friend, we don’t know who.
“That’s all we know.”
Anyone with information on Kahleb’s whereabouts was asked to call the sheriff’s office at 205-932-3205 and ask to speak to Investigator Brandon Collins.
