Authorities have taken a significant step in a heart-wrenching case involving a 1-year-old boy. The boy was last seen in early September, yet his whereabouts remained a mystery after a December 8 crash that claimed the lives of two of his family members and left his mother critically injured. An emergency missing child alert was promptly issued, and the search for the baby has been ongoing since December 9.

Key Details and Charges

The baby's grandfather and custodian, 55-year-old John Elton Bailey, has been charged with failure to report a missing child. According to a criminal complaint obtained by USA TODAY, it is claimed that the baby was actually last seen in September. Additionally, there are indications that the child may have been harmed or taken from their Alabama home. Bailey was booked into jail just before midnight on December 11 and remains jailed in Fayette County on a $100,000 bond.

Single-Vehicle Crash and Family Tragedy

On December 8, just before 10:30 a.m. in Glen Allen, Fayette County, deputies assisted Alabama State Troopers with a single-vehicle crash. The 2020 Toyota Tacoma driven by Collins left the roadway at a high speed and struck a tree. Both Collins and his passenger, Wendy Bailey, were injured and rushed to the hospital in critical condition. Neither was wearing a seat belt. Their 2-year-old daughter Ryleigh Collins, who was in the back seat and also unrestrained, was pronounced dead at the scene. Collins himself died at the hospital the next day.That same day, law enforcement was informed that the couple in the crash "had another child" who was unaccounted for. The condition of Kahleb's mother, the surviving victim, was not immediately known on Wednesday. USA TODAY has reached out to the sheriff's office for more information.

Search and Appeal for Information

Police have been tirelessly searching for the baby since December 9. Anyone with information about the case or knows the baby's whereabouts is urged to call 911 or the sheriff's office at 205-932-3205. The search continues as the community rallies together in the hope of bringing the baby home safely.Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.