UPDATE
Kayla Bailey was found safe Wednesday.
According to First Coast News, JSO’s Missing Persons Unit members found her in a wooded area, less than a mile from her Duval County residence.”
“Imagine somebody that’s been out in the weather that we’ve been having for the past two days with no water, no food, no shelter, that is the condition that she was found in,” SO Sgt. Michael Monts said.
She’s now reportedly in stable condition at an area hospital.
Initial Coverage
A Florida man is behind bars amid the search for his wife, a missing mother of five, who they believe to be in danger.
According to the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, police are searching for newborn photographer, Kayla Bailey, who was last seen Sunday at her residence off of Maxville Boulevard in Maxville.
She was reported missing Monday and reportedly left the home alone, on foot.
Police arrested her husband, Joshua Bailey, 40, on Tuesday. He’s face charges that include violation of injunction for protection against domestic violence and violation of probation on a felony offense, Action News Jax reports.
Before his arrest, Joshua Bailey told the outlet that he visited a Sunoco on U.S. 301, near Maxville, after Kayla’s phone last pinged there.
โWe were hoping that we could just pick her up and bring her home, because the kids still needed to go to school and everything else like that,โ he said. โAnd we started the search right away. We knew something was wrong.โ
His arrest isn’t related to his wife’s disappearance, police said. However, a JSO incident report indicated that the couple had been having issues.
๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐ฏ๐ ๐ฒ๐จ๐ฎ ๐ฌ๐๐๐ง ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฅ๐ ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐๐ฒ?
Your #JSO is actively searching for 34-year-old Kayla Bailey. We received a call yesterday (Monday) morning she had not seen since late Sunday evening. She was seen at her home on Maxville Boulevard inโฆ pic.twitter.com/1oaAg56xTAโ Jax Sheriff’s Office (@JSOPIO) August 19, 2025
Kayla’s mother, Lisa Lucas, said she has previously vanished around three weeks earlier, but returned home days later.
According to First Coast News, Kayla’s daughter said she previously left with her other children because of Joshua Bailey “lying about taking medication,” and lack of water at the home.
In her most recent disappearance, police said she took her driver’s license but left her purse and wallet behind.
Police described Kayla as standing 5 feet, 8 inches tall and weighing about 250 pounds. She has green eyes and blonde/strawberry hair, and was last seen wearing a black romper, glasses, and brown shoes.
Anyone with information on Kayla’s whereabouts should contact JSO at 904-630-0500.
Check back for updates.
For the latest true crime and justice news,ย subscribe to the โCrime Stories with Nancy Graceโ podcast. Listen to a previous episode on the case.
[Feature Photo: Family Handout]