Social services , the agency responsible for protecting vulnerable children from neglectful environments, failed in its duty after leaving a 3-year-old boy to lose his life in a hot car .
Three-year-old Ke’Torrius Starks Jr. was under the care of a Department of Human Resources worker in Birmingham, Alabama, when he tragically passed on Tuesday (July 22).
- Ke’Torrius Starks Jr. tragically passed away after being left in a hot car by a contracted worker for Alabama’s Department of Human Resources.
- The worker allegedly ran personal errands while the boy remained strapped in the parked vehicle.
- The case is under investigation by police in Birmingham, Alabama.
Starks was identified by his father at the coroner’s office. He was found in a hot car outside a home on Pine Tree Drive.
A 3-year-old boy from Alabama lost his life after being abandoned in a hot car
3-year-old boy in temporary foster care sitting on floor, wearing blue tank top with shark design and navy shorts.
The boy had reportedly been abandoned in the car between 12:30 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. local time, and was pronounced deceased at 6:03 p.m.
The family’s attorney, Courtney French, described the incident as a “heartbreaking and preventable tragedy.”
She stated: “Based upon a preliminary investigation, with the current extreme outside temperatures and the heat index of 108 degrees (42 °C), the interior temperature of the car where KJ was trapped likely exceeded 150 degrees (65.5 °C).”
3-year-old boy in temporary foster care holding toy cars next to large gold number three balloon in hallway setting
A spokesperson for Alabama DHR told AL.com that a child “in DHR custody was being transported by a contract provider when the incident occurred” and that “the provider has terminated their employee.”
They added: “Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the identity of the child or the exact circumstances.”
Ke’Torrius Starks Jr. was in the custody of Alabama’s Department of Human Resources
Alabama Department of Human Resources building exterior related to 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care case
Residential neighborhood with parked cars and stop sign near Pine Tree Drive and Pine Tree Place where 3-year-old boy in foster care found.
Comment on social media expressing concern over failed protection for a 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care.
According to the family’s attorney, Starks was in temporary foster care and had been picked up from daycare at 9:00 a.m. for a supervised visit with his biological father, which ended around 11:30 a.m.
When that visit was over, Starks was never returned to daycare, said his aunt, Brittney Debruce.
Instead, the worker, employed through The Covenant Services, Inc., allegedly stopped to buy food for her family and shop at a tobacco store.
She then returned to her home and left the child in the parked car for over five hours, where he passed from the intolerably hot temperatures.
The boy was abandoned in the hot car, believed to exceed 150 degrees (65.5 °C), following a supervised visit with his biological father
Man with afro hairstyle wearing a white tank top speaking outside, related to 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care incident.
Two men walking near a car, related to a 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care who passed away in a hot car.
French said police received a 911 call at around 6:40 p.m. reporting that a child had been found unresponsive in a vehicle parked outside a private residence.
The boy was found fastened in his car seat and was pronounced deceased at the scene. The vehicle was in the driveway of the residence, and the windows were rolled up.
Attorney Courtney French described the incident as a “heartbreaking and preventable tragedy”
Sign outside the Jefferson County Coroner Medical Examiner office where investigation of 3-year-old boy in foster care is conducted
Comment by Pam McAllister discussing a social worker’s responsibility for a child in temporary foster care.
Woman comforting young child outdoors, reflecting on tragic 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care case.
In a statement issued by French’s office, the 3-year-old’s family said, “This is a parent’s worst nightmare. Our baby should be alive.”
The child’s father said he was going to remember his son and was so proud of his intelligence, as per WVTM13. The boy, originally from Bessemer, Alabama, knew his colors and loved to count.
The tragedy is under investigation by Birmingham police.
After the visit, a DHR worker stopped to buy food for her family and shop at a tobacco store
Man holding a gold balloon with a young boy, related to 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care news.
Starks is at least the 16th child to lose their life in a hot car in the United States this year, according to data compiled by Kids and Car Safety.
From 1990-2024, there were at least 1,126 child fatality cases resulting from infants being left in hot cars in the United States. At least another 7,500 children survived with varying degrees of injury, the group shared.
55% of those who lose their lives were unknowingly left by an otherwise loving, responsible parent or caregiver.
3-year-old boy in temporary foster care smiling while sitting on a monkey statue in a playful setting
Earlier this month, a 5-year-old boy passed away in a hot car outside a daycare in San Antonio, Texas. The young boy’s mother, 22, went to work and forgot to take him out of the car to drop him off at the facility.
Once she returned to her vehicle, she found that her son “was still in his car seat and unresponsive,” police said.
On July 1, a 9-year-old girl lost her life after she was left inside a vehicle after her mother went to work at 6 a.m. The victim’s mother was detained at the scene.
On June 28, a 3-month-old boy was found deceased in a locked car, after his father, Ricardo Adrian Mata, forgot he was in the backseat of the car. The Texas man was reportedly drinking at the time of the incident and is now facing charges.
People accused the worker of purposefully leaving the 3-year-old inside the car
Comment on social media post highlighting the tragic death of a 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care after being left in a hot car.
Comment on social worker abandoning 3-year-old boy in hot car discussing child safety and phone reminders.
Comment about child left in hot vehicle, highlighting risks of leaving a 3-year-old boy in a hot car by a social worker.
Comment about social worker negligence in temporary foster care causing harm to 3-year-old boy left unattended in hot car.
Facebook comment by Tawanda Bryant expressing concern about forgetting a child in a car and urging vehicle safety checks.
Comment from Rhonda Mitchell expressing sarcasm about forgetting a cell phone in relation to a 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care left in a hot car.
Comment expressing confusion over not knowing the whereabouts of a 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care.
Comment by Brenda Shawaker expressing grief over 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care passing after social worker leaves him in hot car.
Social worker comment expressing outrage over 3-year-old boy left in hot car during temporary foster care.
Screenshot of a social media comment emphasizing child safety after 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care passes away.
Comment expressing disbelief about leaving a child in a car, related to 3-year-old boy in temporary foster care in hot car incident.
Social media post expressing shock over 3-year-old boy left in hot car leading to his passing in foster care.
Comment by Shontay Dnob saying she purposely did it, with 253 likes, discussing 3-year-old boy in foster care incident.
Screenshot of a social media comment discussing child safety in cars after a 3-year-old boy in foster care passed away.
Screenshot of a social media comment criticizing a social worker after a 3-year-old boy in foster care was left in a hot car.
Comment expressing suspicion about a child forgotten in a hot car during extreme summer heat by a social worker.
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