Woman arrested in hot car death of 3-year-old in Birmingham

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - A woman has been arrested in the death of 3-year-old Ke’Torrius Starkes Jr.

Kela Stanford, 54, is charged with leaving a child in a vehicle. She was arrested Aug. 1.

The charge, which is part of the Amiyah White Act, prohibits leaving a child or incapacitated person unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm.

Starkes was under the care of the Alabama Department of Human Resources and was being transported by Stanford who was a Covenant Services employee at the time of his death. Covenant Services was contracted by DHR to help with child transportation.

The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Starkes was left inside the vehicle July 22 on Pinetree Drive in Birmingham from approximately 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. He was found unresponsive and pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.

“This is a terrible tragedy that was completely avoidable and unnecessary. Our condolences go out to Ke’Torrius’s family, said Jefferson County District Attorney Danny Carr.

The Bessemer community will come together Friday, August 1 for a vigil and balloon release in memory of Ke’Torrius.

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