Mother arrested in case of missing child

Authorities searching the property surrounding the home of Steven Collins and Wendy Bailey on Thursday, Jan. 2. | Photo courtesy of Fayette County Sheriff Byron Yerby 

The investigation into the disappearance of one-year-old Kahleb Rowan Collins took a turn last week following the arrest of Kahleb’s mother, Wendy Pamela Jean Bailey.

On Thursday, Jan. 2, the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office along with K-9 units from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, Agents with ALEA-SBI, State Fire Marshals, 24th District Attorney’s office, 25th District Attorney’s Office and Berry Police Department conducted a search on the property at 13635 Hwy 129 in Glen Allen as authorities continued their search for the child’s remains, according to Fayette County Sheriff Byron Yerby. According to a press release from FCSO, Bailey, 22, was arrested on Dec. 30, 2024, and has been charged with aggravated child abuse, first-degree domestic violence, abuse of a corpse and criminally negligent homicide. The charges are related to the death of Kahleb Collins, as well as the fatal crash on Dec. 8 that killed his 2-year-old sister, Ryleigh Collins.