It’s every parent’s worst nightmare. Illinois gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey and his wife, Cindy, are grieving the unimaginable loss of their son, Zachary, his wife Kelsey, and their two young children after a helicopter crash in Montana.
Only their 10-year-old grandson, Finn, survived — spared because he took another flight. “Darren and Cindy are heartbroken by this unimaginable loss,” their campaign shared. “They are finding comfort in their faith and the prayers of so many.”
Zachary, a devoted father and pilot, had been flying the family to a farming convention. His running mate, Aaron Del Mar, said through tears, “It’s soul-crushing. Zach was a good man — full of faith, kindness, and respect.”
The Baileys are pillars of their Illinois community, known for their farm, ministry, and deep compassion. As investigators look into what went wrong, one truth remains painfully clear: some losses change a family — and a town — forever.
