AL AL - Kahleb Rowan Collins, 1, his dad & sis were killed in a car crash, he wasn't with them, Fayette County, 8 Dec 2024

[tlcya]

I would be shocked if Kahleb wasn't SBC's son. I will also be surprised if JEB was a court appointed anything to those kids, I suspect the statute applies to an adult member of the household and not necessarily legal guardian in the way many are thinking. Finally, I am almost 100% certain that Ryleigh was also abused by SBC, but the wreck happened so we will likely never know that at this point. Her transformation from a joyful happy baby to a sad eyed little toddler speak volumes IMO

 

[NervousNellie]

I have heard the term "Irish Twins" my entire life. (As I type that, I realize it's kind of a slur, isn't it? yikes!) Anyway, I know several people who have siblings born within a year of their birth. It happens. Having two babies/births within a year (if they did), is NOT EVEN CLOSE to the actual terrible things this couple did.

 

[ttjo]

I would be shocked if Kahleb wasn't SBC's son. I will also be surprised if JEB was a court appointed anything to those kids, I suspect the statute applies to an adult member of the household and not necessarily legal guardian in the way many are thinking. Finally, I am almost 100% certain that Ryleigh was also abused by SBC, but the wreck happened so we will likely never know that at this point. Her transformation from a joyful happy baby to a sad eyed little toddler speak volumes IMO

yeah I am wondering about that b/c its not making sense. if the kids were taken away they wouldnt be living together , not with the grandpa and certainly not with steve and wendy together in 3 months there should have been a face to face visit ( there should have been 3 but one for sure) and they would have been aware he was missing.
Then there is Adam montgomery, who managed to pull one over on the social workers where they came for a visit but didnt see Harmony, they just took his word.

 

[tlcya]

yeah I am wondering about that b/c its not making sense. if the kids were taken away they wouldnt be living together , not with the grandpa and certainly not with steve and wendy together in 3 months there should have been a face to face visit ( there should have been 3 but one for sure) and they would have been aware he was missing.
Then there is Adam montgomery, who managed to pull one over on the social workers where they came for a visit but didnt see Harmony, they just took his word.

not to mention SEB should never have been a candidate for legal placement with his prior record (JMO). all of these things combined lead me to believe custody in this case refers to him being an adult in that household and not legal custody.

Although, we saw this happen with little Quinton Simon. Grandma given legal custody and then allowing her daughter and boyfriend to live there with the children who grandma was supposed to be protecting. So it does happen. I'll be curious to learn more when the judge decides how much CPS/DHR records will be made available to JEB's attorney and how much he decides to share with press.

 

[ttjo]

not to mention SEB should never have been a candidate for legal placement with his prior record (JMO). all of these things combined lead me to believe custody in this case refers to him being an adult in that household and not legal custody.

Although, we saw this happen with little Quinton Simon. Grandma given legal custody and then allowing her daughter and boyfriend to live there with the children who grandma was supposed to be protecting. So it does happen. I'll be curious to learn more when the judge decides how much CPS/DHR records will be made available to JEB's attorney and how much he decides to share with press.

funny I was just about to post about Quinton too, thats why family is not always the best placement if there are boundary issues with them letting the parents see the kids ( like in quintons case)

 

[Izzylizzy]

I have some questions,
why did the grandfather have custody? or guardianship , typicaly that means there is child welfare involvement
Did they all live together? Obviously no SW checked in to do a face to face if he was last seen in sept thats almost 90 days ? ( standard requirement is usually monthly even if its just a custody agreement but thats in Canada I dont know about the US )

How else would the grandfather get Guardianship. ( even a custody agreement or a temporary guardianship order) if not by a court order?
Do we know for sure he was the guardian at the time?

Also we don't know if the sealed records from January 2024 forward that DHS has on the family say that the 2 children were first removed from the home and placed into foster care and then JEB got custody of them?
Who watched these children since RC and then KC was born and when WPB was at work?
Was SBC employeed then or when he died?
Was JEB ever employeed and did he not work when he is said to have gained custody of the children?
What could be in the sealed records that JEB's defense could use to his advantage?
It wouldn't surprise me if the lawyers for both WPB & JEB did a "JDA aka "joint defense agreement" (if legally possible) and both pointed all their fingers at SBC.

This Alabama site states that JEB would have had a background ck before gaining custody as a grandparent.

https://www.childwelfare.gov/resources/placement-children-relatives-alabama/

 

[dulcinea]

I have no idea what the circumstances were in the is case, but as an educator who worked in a very specific area that had to follow guardianship and custody laws, I would encounter families where guardianship or custody was given to a grandparent, friend, other family member, etc. This was sometimes temporary (parent needed to leave the country or went into a psychiatric hospital) and sometimes more permanent (bio parent was in and out of the child's life for various reasons or had diminished mental capacity). However, in many cases, the parents' rights were not terminated or impeded; it simply meant another adult had the legal capability to make decisions for the child. Parents' access to the child was not restricted. Perhaps this was something similar since the three adults appeared to be sharing living space with the children.

 

[Izzylizzy]

I have no idea what the circumstances were in the is case, but as an educator who worked in a very specific area that had to follow guardianship and custody laws, I would encounter families where guardianship or custody was given to a grandparent, friend, other family member, etc. This was sometimes temporary (parent needed to leave the country or went into a psychiatric hospital) and sometimes more permanent (bio parent was in and out of the child's life for various reasons or had diminished mental capacity). However, in many cases, the parents' rights were not terminated or impeded; it simply meant another adult had the legal capability to make decisions for the child. Parents' access to the child was not restricted. Perhaps this was something similar since the three adults appeared to be sharing living space with the children.

If child abuse was involved I believe it's a different story about parents not being restricted from seeing/living with their children.

<modsnip> Do not discuss rumors.

From reading about child abuse cases first comes the investigation and if abuse is confirmed the children are removed from the home then and there.
Where they go next varies but as far as I know when CPS is involved and children/family are now in the system.
When and how the abuse investigation is concluded would then determine any changes to parental rights if warranted.
All of this info may be in the sealed HRS documents on the family beginning in Jan 2024 that JEB's defense asked the judge to unseal.

 

[Unalienable Rights]

District attorney seeks to delay hearings in case of missing toddler Kahleb Collins

UPDATE: Fayette County Judge Merrell Nolen has granted the state's request to continue the preliminary hearing. A new hearing date is set for February 11, 2025

abc3340.com

FAYETTE COUNTY, AL (WBMA) — Fayette County District Attorney Andrew Hamlin is asking that court hearings related to the case of missing toddler Kahleb Collins be continued. Kahleb's mother Wendy Bailey and his grandfather John Bailey were due in court January 15th for preliminary hearings.

In the court filing D.A. Hamlin says the state is in the process of completing the investigative file and asks that the cases be re-set to the next available preliminary hearing docket. The judge has not ruled on the request.

******
ABC 33/40 News has confirmed information about his two year old sister Ryleigh. According to Fayette County Coroner Timothy Kimbrell, there were no signs Ryleigh had been abused prior to her death.

 

[oceanverde]

District attorney seeks to delay hearings in case of missing toddler Kahleb Collins

UPDATE: Fayette County Judge Merrell Nolen has granted the state's request to continue the preliminary hearing. A new hearing date is set for February 11, 2025

abc3340.com

FAYETTE COUNTY, AL (WBMA) — Fayette County District Attorney Andrew Hamlin is asking that court hearings related to the case of missing toddler Kahleb Collins be continued. Kahleb's mother Wendy Bailey and his grandfather John Bailey were due in court January 15th for preliminary hearings.

In the court filing D.A. Hamlin says the state is in the process of completing the investigative file and asks that the cases be re-set to the next available preliminary hearing docket. The judge has not ruled on the request.

******
ABC 33/40 News has confirmed information about his two year old sister Ryleigh. According to Fayette County Coroner Timothy Kimbrell, there were no signs Ryleigh had been abused prior to her death.

Jesus then why Kahleb?

 

[tlcya]

Kimbrell says Ryleigh was alive with almost 100% certainty prior to a traffic crash in December. That crash killed Ryleigh along with her father Steven Collins and injured her mother. Collins was driving 90 plus miles per hour near their home when the vehicle left the roadway and hit a tree according to a crash report from ALEA.
District attorney seeks to delay hearings in case of missing toddler Kahleb Collins

I am shocked to learn that Ryleigh was not physically abused, only her baby brother. I would have bet dollars to donuts she was. But I can say with certainty watching your daddy abuse your baby brother was most certainly psychologically abusive. So was living in a household where abuse of anyone was happening.

Why was Kahleb singled out as Steven's scapegoat?

 

[MissMalowe]

Jesus then why Kahleb?

Just making guesses here but perhaps Kahleb was an unplanned pregnancy and all of the added financial & parental stress that goes along with caring & providing for 2 children was taken out on him? Or maybe Steve/Brad felt he was baby-trapped by Wendy/Pam and his feelings of resentment were misplaced?

Perhaps Kahleb's age/development level had some sort of significance? Maybe the parents were both horrible at dealing with children at his stage? (15-17 months?) Big enough to be running around and getting into things yet still too young to have much communication skills or understanding?

Spirited/Busy? Maybe Ryleigh was less curious, more easy-going and required less patience than the average child and Kahleb was a typical young tot or even a curious, busy, more high maintenance baby/young tot and they were very resentful of having to actually BE parents and keep a watchful eye on him?

The parents both had photos or posts about or including Ryleigh on their FB profiles, but barely anything about Kahleb. And Steven/Brad had a lot of posts even before Ryleighs birth either sharing ultrasound photos, info about prenatal appts, counting down the time until her arrival, pics after her birth, video of her first walking etc. He at least seemed genuinely excited about Ryleighs arrival and about being a new dad and his new little family. And again, barely anything about Kahleb. One post about him being due in 7 weeks, a more recent-ish photo of he & Ryleigh seated together on a push toy and then that (fabricated, imo) post about Kahleb's organs are growing but not his body "medical condition" announcement and that's it. I remember after looking over both parents FB pages early on and getting the gut feeling that this wasn't simply a matter of the "normal" 1st kid sometimes has every small milestone celebrated with more excitement than subsequent children. The stark contrast between the two children even just on Facebook seemed abnormal.

 

[Parsnip]

Jesus then why Kahleb?

It could be as simple as Kahleb being a boy, and dad didn’t want competition. He was going to dominate from the very beginning and keep his son in his place. Moo, but he seems to have had trouble with other males in his life…it makes me wonder about the grandfather and how they did or didn’t get along.

 

[Izzylizzy]

Jesus then why Kahleb?

When a parent(s) abuse just one of their children it's been coin-termed "The Cinderella Phenomenon" or "target child selection".
The few articles I've read about it points to the child either being weak from some medical problem or the child reminds them of someone, or the child isn't theirs or they believe the child isn't theirs.
Nothing I read mentioned an infant/baby and most of the reasons can be applied to an abuser who abuses all their children.
It's been studied more with abusive step-parents.

https://www.pacesconnection.com/blog/the-cinderella-phenomenon-when-one-child-is-the-target-of-abuse

 

[Izzylizzy]

Just making guesses here but perhaps Kahleb was an unplanned pregnancy and all of the added financial & parental stress that goes along with caring & providing for 2 children was taken out on him? Or maybe Steve/Brad felt he was baby-trapped by Wendy/Pam and his feelings of resentment were misplaced?

Perhaps Kahleb's age/development level had some sort of significance? Maybe the parents were both horrible at dealing with children at his stage? (15-17 months?) Big enough to be running around and getting into things yet still too young to have much communication skills or understanding?

Spirited/Busy? Maybe Ryleigh was less curious, more easy-going and required less patience than the average child and Kahleb was a typical young tot or even a curious, busy, more high maintenance baby/young tot and they were very resentful of having to actually BE parents and keep a watchful eye on him?

The parents both had photos or posts about or including Ryleigh on their FB profiles, but barely anything about Kahleb. And Steven/Brad had a lot of posts even before Ryleighs birth either sharing ultrasound photos, info about prenatal appts, counting down the time until her arrival, pics after her birth, video of her first walking etc. He at least seemed genuinely excited about Ryleighs arrival and about being a new dad and his new little family. And again, barely anything about Kahleb. One post about him being due in 7 weeks, a more recent-ish photo of he & Ryleigh seated together on a push toy and then that (fabricated, imo) post about Kahleb's organs are growing but not his body "medical condition" announcement and that's it. I remember after looking over both parents FB pages early on and getting the gut feeling that this wasn't simply a matter of the "normal" 1st kid sometimes has every small milestone celebrated with more excitement than subsequent children. The stark contrast between the two children even just on Facebook seemed abnormal.

I'm curious if SBC harbored resentment towards his parents about his childhood and his son paid for it with his violent rage?

 

[muggles63]

I do end of life care to foster children. My last little boy was a twin, he was terribly abused, his sister was not. The only difference between the two was, he cried a bit more than she did. He came to us at 3 months, he passed in May at 7 years old. He was a beautiful little boy, who could light up a room. He didn't deserve what happened.
Like I said, the only difference was he cried a bit more than his twin sister.

 

[Izzylizzy]

I do end of life care to foster children. My last little boy was a twin, he was terribly abused, his sister was not. The only difference between the two was, he cried a bit more than she did. He came to us at 3 months, he passed in May at 7 years old. He was a beautiful little boy, who could light up a room. He didn't deserve what happened.
Like I said, the only difference was he cried a bit more than his twin sister.

Blessings to both you and to your son who was able to experience love, love that he carried with him when he passed.

 

[cutter99]

Thank you for what you do @muggles63!

 

[ttjo]

I do end of life care to foster children. My last little boy was a twin, he was terribly abused, his sister was not. The only difference between the two was, he cried a bit more than she did. He came to us at 3 months, he passed in May at 7 years old. He was a beautiful little boy, who could light up a room. He didn't deserve what happened.
Like I said, the only difference was he cried a bit more than his twin sister.

wow, bless your heart for doing that, sounds like a very heartbreaking thing to do,
I'd like to know more but it would be off-topic.

 

[Knox]

I do end of life care to foster children. My last little boy was a twin, he was terribly abused, his sister was not. The only difference between the two was, he cried a bit more than she did. He came to us at 3 months, he passed in May at 7 years old. He was a beautiful little boy, who could light up a room. He didn't deserve what happened.
Like I said, the only difference was he cried a bit more than his twin sister.

You are a brave, selfless, beautiful, soul - thank you for loving & caring for these children.