A toddler was found dead in a car after being left there for several hours in Birmingham, Alabama. 3-year-old Ke’Torrius “KJ” Starkes Jr., was meant to be taken to daycare, but he was left in the car by a Department of Human Resources (DHR) worker. He died on Tuesday, July 22, outside the worker’s home, where he was trapped inside a vehicle while the heat index was approximately 108 degrees outside.
Reports say the DHR worker’s car’s interior had likely reached a scorching 150 degrees while KJ was locked inside for 5 hours. He was accidentally left there from 12:30 p.m. to about 5:30 p.m.
According to reports, KJ is from Bessemer and was taken from his parents by DHR for being “unfit.” He was living with a foster family who was supposed to pick him up after daycare on the day of his death. However, the contracted DHR worker did not take him to the daycare.
On Tuesdays, KJ had scheduled visits with his biological father, Ke’Torrius Starkes Sr. Last Tuesday, he was picked up from daycare around 9 a.m. by the DHR worker for the routine supervised visit with his father. Starkes said he handed his son over to the Covenant Services worker around 11:30 a.m., expecting KJ would be taken back to daycare.
Starkes recalled KJ’s parting words: “Daddy, I want to go with you.” Starkes said his son always said those words and indicated that now it hurts even more knowing that his son is gone.
KJ’s foster mother arrived at the daycare to pick him up as usual, but she could not find the child. The DHR worker, according to the family’s attorney, had stopped to pick up food and went to a tobacco store before going home in the 1500 block of Pine Tree Drive, where KJ remained trapped in the vehicle. He was found by police and pronounced dead at the scene.
Both the foster and biological families are grieving the child’s death. Ernest Miller, a cousin from KJ’s foster family, expressed how excited the family was to have him join them.
The worker has since been terminated and is cooperating with the police. Authorities questioned her at Birmingham Police Headquarters as they investigated the incident.
The Department of Human Resources confirmed the incident and said it cannot comment further due to confidentiality. Meanwhile, KJ’s parents say their worst fears have come true and expressed, “Our baby should be alive.”