How Could You? Hall of Shame-Ke’Torrius ‘KJ’ Starkes Jr. case-Child Death

This will be an archive of heinous actions by those involved in child welfare, foster care and adoption. We forewarn you that these are deeply disturbing stories that may involve sex abuse, murder, kidnapping and other horrendous actions.

From Birmingham, Alabama, three-year-old Ke’Torrius Starkes, Jr. died after his Department of Human Resources contract worker, Kela Stanford, 54 left him in the hot car on Tuesday [July 22] for five hours, [12:30-5:30 p.m.]

“Birmingham police said KJ was accidentally left inside the vehicle while in the care of Stanford, who works for Covenant Services, a third-party service contracted through the Department of Human Resources.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue Service pronounced him dead at the scene.”

Kela “arrested Friday and charged with leaving a child in a vehicle” ond “released about an hour later, according to jail records.”

“According to the recording, Stanford – who was responsible for taking KJ to day care – admitted to forgetting that KJ was still in the back seat of the vehicle.

Stanford: “I went to the daycare. And I got sidetracked and stopped off and got something to eat, and when I came out, instead of going to the left to the daycare because I got called and said I didn’t have a case, I instantly said to myself, ‘Oh, I’m done for the day. I’m going to go home.’”

KJ’s father can be heard confronting the transporter during the call, asking how she could forget about his son. The transporter can be heard repeatedly apologizing, saying she “didn’t mean to” and that “there are not enough words to express how bad she feels.””

Following KJ’s death, DHR released this statement:

“A child in DHR custody was being transported by a contract provider when the incident occurred. The provider has terminated their employee. Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the identity of the child or the exact circumstances.”

Police said Stanford has been cooperative with the investigation.

Both KJ’s biological and foster families are struggling to understand how such a tragedy could have occurred.

KJ’s biological father told WBRC he last saw his son during a scheduled visitation the morning of his death at the DHR office in Bessemer. He had no idea it would be the final time he held his child.

“Words can’t even express how I feel right now,” he said, holding back tears. “As soon as I leave my son, the first thing he says is, ‘Daddy, I want to go with you.’ He says that every time, and it really hurts.””

DHS contract worker arrested in hot car death of 3-year-old she was driving to day care, police say
[KBTx 8/1/25 by Emily Van de Riet]

“After the visit, Stanford allegedly ran errands — including stopping at a grocery and tobacco store — instead of taking the child back to the day care.

The worker then drove to her own home, where she left Ke’Torrius buckled inside the car with the windows rolled up — as temperatures soared to 108 degrees, cops allege.”

“Stanford was booked into the Jefferson County Jail under the state’s Amiyah White Act, which prohibits leaving a child or an incapacitated person unattended in a car.

She was released on $30,000 bail that same day, jail records show.”

Child services worker arrested after boy dies while left in her car in 108-degree heat already out on bail
{NY Post 8/5/25 by Emily Crane]

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