Complex Case of Missing Infant “Top Priority” of Fayette County & State Police

Locating a baby who has been missing for months is the top priority of police in Fayette County and the state agencies assisting them, a prosecutor there said Thursday as he asked for understanding during a complex and ongoing investigation.

As the Thread has previously reported, the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and the Alabama Bureau of Investigation are committed to finding 1-year-old Kahleb Collins, who was unaccounted for after a catastrophic wreck killed his father and sister and left his mom in critical condition.

Further investigation found that the infant, Kahleb, may have been missing for a much longer period of time - an Emergency Missing Child Alert issued on Wednesday suggests the one-year-old was last seen in early September.

Police have also arrested the baby's grandfather and charged him criminally for not reporting a missing child.

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On Thursday afternoon, Andy Hamlin, the district attorney who prosecutes criminals in Fayette, Lamar and Pickens Counties, said answers about this case will come soon - but the investigation must continue for a while before they do.

"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," Hamlin said. "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."

Everyone on the ground there knows that the state of Alabama has its eyes glued to the situation looking for updates, but they will have to wait.

"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," Hamlin said. "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."

He also asked anyone who has legitimate information that could help advance the investigation to please contact the Fayette County Sheriff’s Office at 205-932-3205, the state's ABI at 334-676-7894 or the DA's office at 205-367-9915.

For updates on the case as they develop, stay connected to the Tuscaloosa Thread.