A 3-year-old boy died a horrific death after being left in a scorching vehicle for five hours by a child welfare contractor working for the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) — the very agency tasked with protecting him.
Ke’Torrius “KJ” Starks Jr., who had been removed from his family and placed in foster care, was picked up for a court-ordered supervised visit with his father Tuesday morning. The visit ended at 11:30 a.m. — but KJ was never returned to daycare.
Instead, a DHR-contracted transport worker allegedly ran personal errands, went shopping, picked up food, and visited a tobacco store — all while KJ remained strapped in a car seat under blistering Alabama heat.
Temperatures soared above 100°F, with a heat index of 108°F. Experts estimate the interior of the vehicle likely reached over 150°F — more than enough to kill a child.
[embedded content]
“The System That Should Have Protected Him… Killed Him”
Attorney Courtney French, who represents the family, called the incident a systemic failure of the state-run foster care system.
“The safety net that should have been in place to protect KJ and others like him is what caused his death,” French said.
“The very system for his protection was the system that led to his death — and that’s what’s so tragic.”
DHR Contract Worker Ran Errands, Then Went Home
According to French, the Covenant Services Inc. employee:
-
Picked up KJ from daycare at 9:00 a.m.
-
Completed the supervised visit by 11:30 a.m.
-
Then proceeded to run personal errands
-
Went home and left the boy in the car
By the time anyone realized what had happened, it was far too late.
DHR Fires the Employee
In a brief statement, the Alabama DHR admitted that “a child in DHR custody was being transported by a contract provider” and confirmed the employee has been fired.
