Darren Bailey released a message Wednesday, one week after his son, daughter-in-law and two grandchildren were killed in a helicopter crash in Montana .

"Cindy and I are deeply grateful for the outpouring of love, prayers, and support our family has received," the Illinois Republican gubernatorial candidate wrote in a post on X. "The Bailey family—Zachary Adam, age 37, Kelsey Danielle, age 35, and a cherished daughter and son, Vada Rose, age 12, and Samuel Isaac, age 7—of Xenia, Illinois, passed away on October 22, 2025, in Ekalaka, Montana. Their firstborn son, Finnley Tate, age 10, survives, surrounded by loving family."

A celebration of life for the family is scheduled to take place at 9 a.m. on Nov. 3 at Oil Belt Christian Service Camp in Flora, Illinois. A visitation will also be

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