This tragic case highlights a deeply upsetting incident, and the lawsuit filed by KJ’s mother, Ethanlynn Stewart, against state workers and contractors brings attention to the failures in the care and supervision of vulnerable children.
Key Details of the Incident:
Ke’Torrius “KJ” Starkes, a 3-year-old child in foster care, died after being left in a hot car for five hours.
The vehicle was driven by Kela Stanford, an employee of Covenant Services, Inc., a company contracted to assist with transportation for children in the foster care system. Stanford was tasked with picking up KJ from a supervised visit with his father and returning him to daycare.
Instead of following the appropriate procedure, Stanford allegedly went shopping and then drove home, leaving KJ locked inside the car at multiple stops during the day.
The temperature in the car likely reached over 140°F due to the heat index exceeding 105°F outside, which caused KJ’s tragic death.
After the five-hour delay, Stanford found KJ lifeless in the car. Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead by emergency responders.
The Lawsuit:
The lawsuit accuses Kela Stanford, Covenant Services, Inc., and multiple employees of the Alabama Department of Human Resources (ADHR) and Jefferson County Department of Human Resources of failing to ensure KJ’s safety.
The complaint alleges negligence in both the training of Stanford and the lack of follow-up by the state and county departments, who failed to realize KJ was not returned to daycare for several hours.
KJ’s mother, Stewart, claims the tragic event would not have happened if the child had been in the care of his parents, who would have ensured his safety.
Stanford was arrested and charged with Leaving a Child Unattended in a Motor Vehicle, a felony carrying a prison sentence of 2 to 20 years if convicted.
Legal Consequences:
Stanford was fired by Covenant Services, Inc. after the incident.
The Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office issued a warrant for her arrest on Aug. 1, 2025. She was arrested and later released on bail.
This heartbreaking case underscores the responsibility of agencies entrusted with the care of children and the grave consequences when that responsibility is neglected.
