In a heartbreaking incident, a 3-year-old child, Ketorrius Starks, Jr. (known as KJ), tragically lost his life after being left inside a hot car for over five hours. The event occurred in Jefferson County, Alabama, on July 22, 2025.
KJ had been in the care of Kela Stanford, a 54-year-old employee of The Covenant Services, a private company contracted by the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) to transport children to daycare.
The Tragic Discovery
KJ was found unresponsive in the back seat of a car parked outside Stanford’s home on Pine Tree Drive. Authorities believe the child had been left inside the vehicle from approximately 12:30 p.m. until 5:30 p.m., during which time the interior temperature of the car likely reached over 140 degrees.
He was pronounced dead at the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue.
Accusations and Charges
Kela Stanford was arrested and charged with one count of manslaughter in connection to KJ’s death. According to the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, a warrant was initially issued for Stanford’s arrest on charges of leaving a child unattended in a vehicle, creating an unreasonable risk of harm.
The child welfare agency, Covenant Services, has since terminated Stanford’s employment.
Background on the Incident
At the time of the incident, Stanford was responsible for transporting KJ, who was in foster care, to daycare appointments. KJ had been under Stanford’s care many times before. However, on the fateful day, Stanford allegedly forgot that KJ was still in the back seat of the car when she returned home.
She reportedly stopped to get something to eat and, upon returning to her car, mistakenly believed that her workday was over and went inside her house, unaware that KJ was still in the vehicle.
In an emotional phone call with KJ’s family after the incident, Stanford expressed regret, apologizing multiple times for her actions, saying she “did not mean to” and “there are not enough words to express how bad” she felt.
However, the child’s family has voiced their outrage over the neglect, with KJ’s aunt emphasizing how Stanford had failed to check the backseat of the car, especially since the child’s safety lock on the doors prevented him from escaping.
The Family’s Heartbreak
KJ’s family is devastated by the loss, with his father describing his final moments. The father recalled how, on the morning of his death, KJ had said, “Daddy, I want to go with you,” a sentiment he expressed every time they met. “Words can’t even express how I feel right now,” the grieving father said. The family recently held a vigil in KJ’s honor and continues to seek justice for the child.
The Legal Perspective
G. Courtney French, the family’s attorney, condemned the actions of the day care transport worker, stating, “She had one job. She had one job to do, and that was to pick KJ up.”
French added that the child’s death was completely preventable and that the interior temperature of the car exceeded 140 degrees, which likely contributed to the child’s suffocation.
The Aftermath
Following the tragic incident, the Alabama Department of Human Resources released a statement expressing condolences and noting that KJ was a child under their care. However, due to confidentiality, DHR did not provide further details on the case. In response to the incident, The Covenant Services terminated Stanford’s employment.
Stanford was arrested on Friday and released after posting a $30,000 bond. She missed her first court appearance, and a new hearing is scheduled for September. The case is still under investigation, and Stanford faces significant legal consequences for her role in the child’s death.
This devastating tragedy has highlighted the grave responsibilities associated with child care and the importance of ensuring the safety of vulnerable children.
The family of KJ, along with the community, is left to mourn the preventable loss of a young life. The legal proceedings will determine whether justice is served for Ketorrius Starks, Jr. and his grieving family.
