The remains of an Alabama toddler missing and presumed dead since last year were found in a burn pile at the family’s home and now confirmed to be those of the young boy authorities announced Thursday.

Kahleb Collins, 1, was discovered missing after a crash killed his father and sister, 2-year-old Ryleigh Collins, and critically injured his mother.

Kahleb’s mother and grandfather were indicted on charges in connection with his disappearance and death, while the whereabouts Kahleb had remained a mystery.

Fayette County Sheriff Byron Yerby on Thursday said after multiple searches of the family’s property, investigators recovered what they believed to be human remains in a burn pile. The sheriff did not say when the remains were recovered.

“With the assistance of an anthropologist, it was confirmed that a portion of the items recovered were human remains,” Yerby said. “The evidence was sent to forensics for official identification.”

“This is a heartbreaking outcome, and our thoughts and prayers are with all those who loved Kahleb,” the sheriff said.

“While this discovery brings a measure of closure, it is also a solemn reminder of the responsibility we all share in protecting our children,” Yerby said. “We are committed to continuing the pursuit of justice in this case.”

Authorities have not said how Kahleb died.

A Fayette County grand jury on April 15 issued indictments against Kahleb’s mother, Wendy “Pam” Bailey, 23, and Bailey’s father, John Elton Bailey, 55.

The grand jury indicted Pam Bailey on charges of aggravated child abuse, four counts of first-degree domestic violence, corpse abuse, and criminally negligent homicide, which is a misdemeanor.

The criminally negligent homicide charge is for the death of 2-year-old Ryleigh Collins.

The girl was killed in the horrific Dec. 8, 2024, crash that also killed 40-year-old Steven Bradley “Brad” Collins, who was Bailey’s husband and the father of Ryleigh and Kahleb.

The investigation showed Ryleigh was unrestrained when the fatal crash happened that Sunday morning.

John Bailey is charged with aggravated child abuse, four counts of first-degree domestic violence, corpse abuse, and hindering prosecution.

John Bailey is Pam Bailey’s father and lived with the family.

Kahleb was discovered missing

The investigation began that Sunday when the crash happened on Fayette County 73 near Morris Cemetery Road, about two miles south of Glen Allen.

A crash report said Collins was driving 92 mph hour on the road that had a 45-mph speed limit.

“The driver …was driving aggressively at an extreme rate of speed,’’ the ALEA trooper wrote. “Due to his actions, the driver was unable to operate his vehicle safely on the wet roadway.”

The wreck happened when Collins was trying to negotiate a curve to the right, according to the report.

The force of the impact caused Collins and his wife to be ejected from the truck. They were not wearing seat belts.

Ryleigh Collins, who was unrestrained in the back seat, was pronounced dead on the scene at 11 a.m.

Collins, who worked for a roofing company, was taken by ambulance to UAB Hospital, where he died the following day at 1:06 p.m.

Bailey was airlifted to UAB.

Following the deadly crash, investigators learned that Kahleb was missing. The boy would have turned 2 on April 13.

The Fayette County Sheriff’s Office several days later issued a press release saying the 1-year-old had been missing since the Dec. 8 single-vehicle crash.

The following day, the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency issued a missing alert for Kahleb.

Investigators carried out multiple searches at the family’s home on Highway 129 in the Winfield area and traveled to Birmingham several times to interview Bailey at the hospital.

Court records indicate the Alabama Department of Human Resources had been involved with the family.

Before long, court records detailed allegations against Kahleb’s parent of abuse of the young boy.

In one instance, records state, Pam Bailey received a message from Collins saying that he was going to kill Kahleb.

That message was followed by photographs of Kahleb “hanging from a loft with a rope with blood present on his body,’ and of him lying bruised and face up on the floor.

The photos, according to court documents were followed by another message from Collins that read, “He want (sic) move. I’m so sorry.”

Collins then sent another message that read, “He moving.”

Bailey acknowledged the photos and replied, “He just looks wore out and tire (sic) and hurt hopefully that’s all.”

The indictments also allege Pam Bailey hit Kahleb and bound him to a chair.

Authorities contend Kahleb was last seen Sept. 4.

Brad Collins on Nov. 6 posted this on Facebook: “Our son is not doing well. He is not growing, has major back issues. His organs are growing but not his body. He has to have surgery at some point. Keep him in your prayers. Been rough and just seems going to be a long rough road ahead of us.”

Both suspects are set to be arraigned in August.