6 days ago
Child protective services worker leaves 3-year-old boy in car on hot day for 5 hours. What happened next will shock you
A 3-year-old child in Alabama has died after being left in a car by a worker contracted by the state's Department of Human Resources (DHR). The incident occurred on a day with a heat index of 108 degrees. Authorities are now investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of Ke'Torrius Starks Jr.
How Did the Child Die?
Ke'Torrius Starks Jr., a child in temporary foster care, had been scheduled to meet his biological father in a supervised visit on Tuesday. According to authorities, his foster family dropped him off at daycare at 9 a.m. for pickup by a DHR worker. The worker was a contract employee with a third-party provider.
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The visit with his father concluded at 11:30 a.m. Instead of returning the child to daycare as planned, the worker reportedly made personal stops, including picking up food for her family and entering a tobacco store.
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Child Left Alone in Hot Vehicle for Five Hours
The worker then returned to her residence with the child still in the vehicle. Reports state that the boy was left inside the car with the windows rolled up from around 12:30 p.m. until approximately 5:30 p.m. By that time, temperatures outside had reached 108 degrees. Experts estimate the temperature inside the car may have exceeded 150 degrees. At around 6 p.m., the child was pronounced dead at the scene.
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DHR Response and Investigation
The Alabama Department of Human Resources confirmed the incident and said the worker was employed by a contract provider. The provider has since terminated the worker's employment. Due to confidentiality rules, the agency has not released the identity of the worker or details about how long Ke'Torrius had been in foster care.
DHR stated, '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.'
Law enforcement is investigating the incident, and no charges have been filed yet. The name of the worker has not been made public.
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Family Response and Legal Action
The child's parents issued a statement calling the death 'a parent's worst nightmare' and said, 'Our baby should be alive.' The family is being represented by attorney Courtney French, who described the situation as 'a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy.'
French added that the heat inside the car was likely over 150 degrees due to the extreme heat index. He emphasized that the situation should never have occurred.
First Hot Car Death in Alabama This Year
According to state data, this is the first reported hot-car death in Alabama in 2025.
Child safety
advocates have repeatedly warned about the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles during warm weather.
Authorities are continuing the investigation, and the family is awaiting further answers regarding the circumstances that led to the child's death.
FAQs
Who was responsible for the child at the time of his death?
A contracted
child protective services worker
from a third-party provider was responsible when the child was left in the hot car.
Has the worker been charged or identified?
The worker has been fired, but authorities have not released their identity or confirmed whether they will face charges.
