The little boy, who was under the care of the state, was found unresponsive inside a vehicle parked outside a home. His family have shared their heartbreak over their ‘worst nightmare’
A three-year-old boy has tragically died after being left in a hot car while in the custody of social services, leaving his parents devastated.
Ke’Torrius “KJ” Starkes Jr., from Bessemer, Alabama was found unresponsive on Tuesday, June 22, inside a vehicle parked outside a home on Pine Tree Drive in Birmingham, police said. He was under the care of the Department of Human Resources (DHR) at the time.
He had been placed in the temporary custody of the state due to alleged drug use in his household, according to the family’s lawyer, Courtney French.
Authorities said KJ was “accidentally left inside” the car by a third-party contractor hired by the DHR. The child had reportedly been in the vehicle between 12:30pm and 5:30 pm, during which time temperatures reached 35C (96F). He was pronounced dead at 6:03pm, according to local news channel, WVTM.
The family’s laywer claims the contracted transport worker, employed by Covenant Services Inc., picked KJ up from a nursery that morning for a supervised visit with his father.
Afterwards, the worker allegedly failed to return him to the day care centre and instead ran multiple personal errands – including stops for tobacco and food – with KJ still strapped into his car seat. The employee eventually went home, allegedly leaving the child in the vehicle.
“This system was supposed to protect KJ, but it failed him completely,” said French. “The very safety net designed for his well-being became the cause of his death — and that’s the heartbreaking part.”
DHR confirmed in a brief statement that a child in its custody had been in the care of a contract provider when the incident occurred. The provider has since reportedly terminated the employee. Due to confidentiality, the department declined to comment further.
The employee involved has not been publicly named but is cooperating with authorities and was questioned by Birmingham police, according to local reports. No charges have been filed.
Covenant Services declined to comment. KJ’s family, through their lawyer, stated: “This is a parent’s worst nightmare. Our baby should be alive.”
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed the autopsy has been completed and KJ’s body has been released to his parents.
An official cause of death is still pending.
The little boy’s funeral is scheduled for Saturday, August 2.
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