A 54-year-old Alabama woman, Kela Stanford, has been arrested on manslaughter charges after allegedly leaving a 3-year-old boy, Ketorrius Starks, Jr. (known as KJ), in a hot car for several hours, leading to his tragic death.
Authorities say Stanford, who worked for a contracted service provider for the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), was responsible for transporting KJ but failed to ensure his safety.
The Tragic Incident
The incident occurred on July 22, 2025, when KJ was found dead inside a car parked outside Stanford’s home in Birmingham, Alabama. The toddler had been left in the car for about five hours, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
According to authorities, KJ’s body was discovered unresponsive in the vehicle, and he was later pronounced dead at the scene by Birmingham Fire and Rescue. The car’s interior temperature likely exceeded 140 degrees.
At the time of the incident, KJ was under DHR custody and was being transported by Stanford, who was employed by The Covenant Services, a private company contracted by the state. KJ’s family described him as a foster child and said he had been frequently transported by Stanford to day care appointments.
The Apology and Phone Call
In a phone call between Stanford and KJ’s family members after the tragedy, Stanford claimed she forgot the child in the car after a detour for food, explaining that she “got sidetracked” and “instantly said to myself, ‘Oh, I’m done for the day.
I’m going to go home.’” When KJ’s father questioned how she could forget his son, Stanford apologized, repeatedly expressing how bad she felt for the accident.
However, the family was furious, questioning how she could have ignored the child in the back seat, especially with the car’s child safety locks engaged. One relative angrily pointed out, “This baby died in a car. He suffocated. He didn’t have no help. No nothing.”
Legal Consequences
Stanford was arrested and charged with manslaughter after the investigation confirmed that KJ had been left unattended in the car. The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office stated that Stanford’s actions were a result of neglect and a failure to properly supervise the child.
She was later released on a $30,000 bond, and her first court appearance was scheduled for Monday, although she missed the hearing.
The DHR confirmed that KJ was in the agency’s custody at the time of the incident and expressed deep sorrow over the child’s death. The Covenant Services released a statement confirming that Stanford was fired following the tragedy.
A Heartbroken Family
KJ’s family, devastated by the loss of the young child, held a vigil and press conference in his honor. His father shared his pain, saying, “Words can’t even express how I feel right now… He always said, ‘Daddy, I want to go with you.’ It really hurts.”
Moving Forward
Stanford’s legal team faces serious scrutiny for her actions, with family attorney G. Courtney French describing the situation as “a parent’s worst nightmare.” The family’s attorney emphasized that this tragedy was preventable and that the interior temperature of the car could have been a deadly factor.
Stanford’s case remains ongoing, with a new court hearing scheduled for September.
