Birmingham, AL — An Alabama foster care worker is facing serious charges after a 3-year-old child in state custody died in a hot car last month. Authorities say Kela Stanford, 54, left the toddler alone in a vehicle for several hours during a scorching July afternoon.
Child Left in Car for 5 Hours, Authorities Say
The child, identified as Ke’Terrious “KJ” Starkes Jr., was found unresponsive on July 22 inside a vehicle parked at Stanford’s Birmingham home. According to officials, the car was turned off, and its windows were rolled up when the boy was discovered.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed that the child had been inside the car for approximately five hours before he was found. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
“This is a heartbreaking case,” said Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr, who announced the charges on Friday.
Stanford has been charged with leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm, a Class B felony in Alabama. If convicted, she faces between 2 and 20 years in prison.
Failed Transfer Between Daycare and Scheduled Visit
KJ, who was in the foster care system, had been picked up from daycare by Stanford for a supervised visit with his biological father, according to NBC News. She was then supposed to return the child to daycare after the visit — but instead, police say the child ended up at her residence, where he was left inside the vehicle.
The toddler’s foster mother discovered something was wrong when she arrived at daycare to pick him up and was told he never returned after his visit.
Stanford was a contract employee for the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR). The department confirmed the incident involved a provider they work with and that Stanford has since been terminated.
“A child in DHR custody was being transported by a contract provider when the incident occurred,” a spokesperson said. “Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the identity of the child or the exact circumstances.”
Father Speaks Out Through Tears
KJ’s biological father, who hasn’t been publicly identified, shared his grief in an interview with WBRC, recalling the last time he saw his son on the morning of July 22.
“Words can’t even express how I feel right now,” he said. “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.”
He explained that he had handed KJ over to the transportation provider, as was standard procedure for state-supervised visitations. The devastating outcome has left many questioning how a routine exchange turned fatal.
Stanford Released on Bond; Investigation Continues
Stanford was booked into Jefferson County Jail on Friday but was released on bond shortly after. Authorities say she was cooperative during questioning, though it’s still unclear what led to the fatal oversight.
The case is still under investigation, and the community is grappling with the tragic loss of a child who should have been protected by the very system meant to care for him.
What are your thoughts on this heartbreaking case? Let us know in the comments.
