Child services worker arrested after boy, 3, dies when left in her car for hours in 108-degree heat
Department of Human Resources employee Kela Stanford, 54, was charged last Friday over Ke'Torrius Starks Jr.'s tragic July 22 demise in Birmingham that saw him left alone in the vehicle for five hours in the searing heat, police said.
Stanford, who works for a third-party contracted by the department, had been tasked with taking little Ke'Torrius to a supervised visit with his biological father the day he died.
Advertisement
4 Ke'Torrius had been living in temporary foster care and was left in the Department of Human Resources worker's car for five hours as temperatures reached 108 degrees.
Starkes Family
The worker had picked the boy up from a day care where he'd been dropped off by his foster family ahead of the scheduled visit, according to authorities.
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.
Advertisement
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.
The little boy was later pronounced dead at the scene.
4 Department of Human Resources employee Kela Stanford, 54, was charged last Friday over Ke'Torrius Starks Jr.'s tragic July 22 demise in Birmingham.
Jefferson County Jail
4 Ke'Torrius Starks Jr., 3, died after being left alone in a scorching car by a child protective services worker in Alabama.
Courtesy Starkes Family
Advertisement
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 a $30,000 bail that same day, jail records show.
'This is a terrible tragedy that was completely avoidable and unnecessary,' the Jefferson County District Attorney's office said.
It wasn't immediately clear how long Ke'Torrius had been with his foster family or why he was removed from his biological parents.
Advertisement
4 The child's foster family had dropped him off at daycare so a DHR worker, contracted by a third party, could pick him up for a scheduled visit with his biological father (above).
FOX54 News Huntsville
The visit with his biological father was part of a court-ordered process for parents to regain custody.
'Words can't even express how I feel right now,' his father told KBTX.
'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.'
Stanford was fired over the tragedy.
'The provider has terminated their employee. Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the identity of the child or the exact circumstances,' the agency said.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
What a background check might reveal about your online date
What a background check might reveal about your online date Summer flings. Rooftop drinks. Last-minute getaways. There's something about this season that makes romance feel a little more spontaneous, and a lot more exciting. Whether you're swiping poolside or lining up coffee dates, summer is prime season for online dating. But while the vibes might be casual, how you handle your safety doesn't have to be. A little curiosity can go a long way when it comes to vetting someone new. And in the era of catfishing, ghosting, and mismatched intentions, running a quick background check might be one of the smartest moves you can make before you get swept off your feet. PeopleFinders dives deeper. Why Even Consider a Background Check? Let's be real: Not everyone is who they claim to be online. Maybe they're vague about their job. Maybe their stories don't quite add up. Or maybe you're just getting a gut feeling that something's off. These days, it's less about being suspicious and more about staying empowered, especially when meeting someone new. A study from Stanford found that around 7% of messages on dating apps were less than honest, with most deceptions aimed at making the person seem more appealing. With dating scams and fake profiles on the rise, doing a little digging isn't overreacting—it's a safety measure. Think of it like checking restaurant reviews before a first date. You're not assuming the worst; you're just being smart about your time and who you spend it with. What a Phone Lookup Might Actually Reveal If you're picturing a formal investigation, don't worry. It's a lot simpler (and more discreet) than that. All you need is a name, address, phone number, or email to start uncovering key details about that person you met online. A quick check can confirm their real name, age, and residence—all things people can easily fudge on dating apps. It might also show if they've been married before, have criminal records, or have used aliases in the past. In some cases, it could even give you insight into past addresses or public employment records. Only have their number? A quick reverse phone lookup can tell you who that number is really linked to. It's a low-effort way to see if what they've told you lines up with the facts. What It Won't Tell You (And Why That's Okay) Of course, a background check isn't a crystal ball. It won't reveal emotional availability, relationship intentions, or whether you'll actually click in person. Those things still require old-fashioned chemistry and some in-person time together. But when it comes to ruling out major red flags or just confirming the basics, having a little extra context can give you the confidence to move forward or gracefully step back. Discreet, Quick, and Totally Normal Here's the good news: Running a background check is a lot more common than you might think. With how much of our lives takes place online these days, you can look someone up in minutes, privately and without alerting them. Whether it's your first match of the summer or someone you've been chatting with for weeks, it's a simple step that keeps you in control. Summer's Short, But Smart Choices Last There's nothing wrong with falling a little fast when the nights are warm and the conversation flows. But before you invest your time and energy into someone new, make sure their story checks out. You don't need to give up on summer romance—far from it. You just need to go into it with open eyes and a little extra online dating savvy. A quick background check won't ruin the magic. In fact, it might just help you feel a little more secure and open to the possibilities ahead. After all, the best kind of summer love? The kind that's real. This story was produced by PeopleFinders and reviewed and distributed by Stacker. Solve the daily Crossword
New York Post
2 days ago
- New York Post
Child services worker arrested after boy, 3, dies when left in her car for hours in 108-degree heat
A child protective services worker in Alabama has been arrested after a 3-year-old boy in her care died while left for hours in her car in 108-degree heat — and she's already been cut loose on bail. Department of Human Resources employee Kela Stanford, 54, was charged last Friday over Ke'Torrius Starks Jr.'s tragic July 22 demise in Birmingham that saw him left alone in the vehicle for five hours in the searing heat, police said. Stanford, who works for a third-party contracted by the department, had been tasked with taking little Ke'Torrius to a supervised visit with his biological father the day he died. Advertisement 4 Ke'Torrius had been living in temporary foster care and was left in the Department of Human Resources worker's car for five hours as temperatures reached 108 degrees. Starkes Family The worker had picked the boy up from a day care where he'd been dropped off by his foster family ahead of the scheduled visit, according to authorities. 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. Advertisement 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. The little boy was later pronounced dead at the scene. 4 Department of Human Resources employee Kela Stanford, 54, was charged last Friday over Ke'Torrius Starks Jr.'s tragic July 22 demise in Birmingham. Jefferson County Jail 4 Ke'Torrius Starks Jr., 3, died after being left alone in a scorching car by a child protective services worker in Alabama. Courtesy Starkes Family Advertisement 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 a $30,000 bail that same day, jail records show. 'This is a terrible tragedy that was completely avoidable and unnecessary,' the Jefferson County District Attorney's office said. It wasn't immediately clear how long Ke'Torrius had been with his foster family or why he was removed from his biological parents. Advertisement 4 The child's foster family had dropped him off at daycare so a DHR worker, contracted by a third party, could pick him up for a scheduled visit with his biological father (above). FOX54 News Huntsville The visit with his biological father was part of a court-ordered process for parents to regain custody. 'Words can't even express how I feel right now,' his father told KBTX. '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.' Stanford was fired over the tragedy. 'The provider has terminated their employee. Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the identity of the child or the exact circumstances,' the agency said.
CNN
5 days ago
- CNN
Alabama state contractor arrested after the hot-car death of a toddler she was caring for, police say
FacebookTweetLink An Alabama state-contracted worker has been arrested in connection with the death of 3-year-old Ke'Torrius 'K.J.' Starkes Jr., who died last week after he was left unattended in a car for several hours in the sweltering summer heat. Kela Stanford, who was tasked with caring for K.J. on the day of his death, was arrested Friday on a felony charge of leaving a child in a car, the Birmingham Police Department announced. She was a third-party worker contracted by the Alabama Department of Human Resources, which oversees care services in the state, police spokesperson De'Rell Freeman confirmed to CNN. K.J.'s family has called the death of their 'bright little child' a 'brutal' scenario and has leveled harsh criticism against the Department of Human Resources. At the time of his death on July 22, the child's family said K.J. was living with a foster family, and Stanford was responsible for driving him from day care to a visit with his father. CNN has sought comment from DHR on the arrest. The agency previously said the toddler was 'being transported by a contract provider' on the day he died and the worker has been fired by the contracting agency. That morning, the family said Stanford picked K.J. up from day care to drive him to see his father. The visit, which was part of a court-ordered process for the parents to regain their custody of K.J., ended around 11:30 a.m., according to Courtney French, the family's attorney. 'Rather than properly returning K.J. immediately to day care, the worker made numerous personal errands with K.J. buckled in a car seat in the back of her car,' French told CNN last week. According to a timeline provided by French, Stanford went home at 12:30 p.m., leaving K.J. 'strapped inside the vehicle, with all windows up and the car engine off.' He was left in the parked car outside the employee's home for more than five hours before the day care reached out to her to ask why K.J. hadn't been returned, French said. 'The worker told law enforcement that it was only then that she realized K.J. was still in her vehicle' and 911 was called, French said. K.J. was pronounced dead at 6:03 p.m., according to the medical examiner's office. During the time window when K.J. was allegedly left alone inside the car, temperatures topped 96 degrees and heat index values – which account for the feeling of both heat and humidity – ranged from 101 to 105 degrees, according to CNN meteorologists. The charge against Stanford stems from the Amiyah White Act, which 'prohibits leaving a child or an incapacitated person unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm,' police said in a statement. K.J.'s death is the first hot car death in Alabama this year, and he is at least the 16th child to die in a hot car nationwide in 2025, according to Amber Rollins, the director of Kids and Car Safety, a nonprofit organization dedicated to its namesake issue. Stanford was booked at the Jefferson County Jail and has posted a $30,000 bond, jail records show. CNN has been unable to determine whether she has legal representation. During a family news conference Friday, K.J.'s aunt and French spoke on behalf of the family, sharing the parents' anguish while also calling for a deeper inquiry into the child's death and the DHR's oversight of the 'preventable' tragedy. K.J.'s aunt, Brittney Johnson, said the family is grateful for the overwhelming love and support they have received from their community. But the family still has several questions about the circumstances of the toddler's death, and they 'pray that this investigation be continued,' Johnson said. 'DHR is the Alabama state agency that's charged by statute with the protection, the safety and the welfare of our children, our most vulnerable children,' French said. 'In their custody is where K.J. died, in the custody of the state agency that legally was supposed to protect him.' 'DHR is supposed to be the safety net,' French said. 'That net is broken.' Alabama State Rep. Patrick Sellers spoke at the family news conference Friday and demanded an investigation into the Department of Human Resources policies and practices regarding foster care custody. 'While this development may bring a measure of accountability, it does not bring back the life of a precious child who was full of promise, joy and innocence,' Sellers said of the arrest. 'K.J.'s life mattered. He deserved protection. He deserved care and a future. What happened to him was preventable, and that truth should haunt us until real change occurs.' French said the Department of Human Resources has not contacted the family, responded to their questions or directly offered condolences. CNN has reached out to the department for comment. A candlelight vigil and balloon release is scheduled for Friday night in honor of K.J. and his funeral will be held Saturday. CNN's Rebekah Riess and Rafael Romo contributed to this report.
