‘HEARTBROKEN AND HOLDING ON’: ILLINOIS MOURNS WITH DARREN BAILEY AFTER FAMILY KILLED IN HELICOPTER CRASH
Illinois is reeling tonight after confirmation that four members of gubernatorial candidate and former State Senator Darren Bailey’s family were killed in a helicopter crash Wednesday evening in Montana.
Bailey’s campaign released the devastating news Thursday, identifying the victims as his son Zachary, daughter-in-law Kelsey, and their two children — 12-year-old Veda and 7-year-old Samuel. The Bailey’s third grandchild, 10-year-old Finn, was not on board the aircraft and is safe.
In a statement shared to social media, the campaign said:
“Darren and Cindy Bailey are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss. They are finding comfort in their faith, their family, and in the prayers of so many who love and care for them.”
The Bailey family, known across southern Illinois for their faith, philanthropy, and small-town roots, has been the emotional center of Louisville, Illinois — a close-knit community in Clay County where the former senator was born and raised.
Tonight, that community stands in grief and solidarity. Residents have gathered in churches, schools, and town squares, lighting candles and offering prayers for strength.
“It’s just unimaginable,” said one local resident outside a candlelight vigil. “They were such wonderful people. Our hearts break for them, and we lift them up in prayer. We’re a strong community — we’ll be here every step of the way.”
Another longtime friend added, “When something like this happens in Clay County, we come together. That’s what we do. We support one another. We will get through this — God is on our side.”
The Robinson R66 helicopter carrying the family went down in rural southeastern Montana under still-unclear circumstances. Officials with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have launched a full investigation, though it may take weeks before preliminary findings are released.
Photos from the scene show the wreckage in an open field, its frame heavily damaged and burned. Authorities have confirmed that all four passengers died at the scene.
Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker shared condolences on social media Thursday, writing:
“My wife and I are devastated to learn of this tragedy. Our prayers and condolences are with the Baileys during this time of unimaginable grief.”
Across the state — from Springfield to Chicago to the rolling farmland of southern Illinois — messages of sorrow have poured in. Churches are holding prayer services, and local businesses have hung black ribbons in solidarity with the Bailey family.
For Darren and Cindy Bailey, faith has long been the foundation of their lives — and now, it becomes their only anchor.
In a brief message shared through family friends, the couple expressed gratitude for the outpouring of love:
“We are broken but not alone. God is with us, and so are all of you.”
As the investigation continues, the people of Illinois remain united — grieving not just for a political figure, but for a family whose generosity, service, and spirit embodied the heart of small-town America.
Tonight, the fields of Clay County are lit by candlelight — not from the glow of politics, but from the warmth of a community standing together, mourning a tragedy that words can barely hold.