A heartbreaking incident in Birmingham has sparked outrage and grief after a three-year-old boy died from heat exposure while under the care of a state-contracted employee.
On Tuesday, June 22, little Ke’Torrius “KJ” Starkes Jr., of Bessemer, was found unresponsive in a parked vehicle outside a residence on Pine Tree Drive. Authorities say the toddler had been left inside the car from approximately 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. — during one of the hottest days of the year.
Birmingham police confirmed the details, noting that by the time emergency responders arrived, it was too late. KJ was pronounced dead at 6:03 p.m.
Temperatures had soared to 96 degrees that afternoon, with the heat index potentially pushing the car’s interior to a deadly 150 degrees. Attorney Courtney French, representing the family, said the child’s death was “completely preventable and caused by unconscionable negligence.”
The person responsible for KJ’s care was reportedly a contracted worker with Alabama’s Department of Human Resources, raising urgent questions about oversight and accountability within the state’s child welfare system.
Attorney Courtney French, who represents the grieving family, revealed that young Ke’Torrius “KJ” Starkes Jr. had been temporarily placed in the custody of Alabama’s Department of Human Resources (DHR) due to allegations of drug use in his home.
On the morning of the tragedy, KJ was picked up from daycare and taken to the DHR office in Bessemer for a supervised visit with his father. The visit proceeded as scheduled, but what followed has left a community outraged.
According to French, the state-contracted employee — hired through Covenant Services Inc. — allegedly ran personal errands after the visit while KJ remained strapped into his car seat. The stops reportedly included a visit to a smoke shop and picking up food.
Tragically, after those errands, the worker is accused of returning home and leaving KJ in the parked vehicle — where the child remained for hours in the brutal summer heat until he was eventually found unresponsive.
“This is a heartbreaking and entirely preventable tragedy,” said attorney Courtney French. “The safety net that was supposed to protect KJ is the very system that failed him. That’s what makes this so devastating — the people and structures meant to keep him safe ultimately caused his death.”
Brittney Debruce, KJ’s aunt, told AL.com that alarm bells went off when the foster parent arrived to pick up KJ from daycare — only to discover he was missing. Moments later, the unthinkable was confirmed: KJ had been left inside the sweltering vehicle.
It was Debruce, alongside Birmingham police officers, who discovered the child’s lifeless body still strapped in the car seat. The grief-stricken family is now demanding answers — and accountability.
In a brief statement, the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR) confirmed that at the time of the incident, Ke’Torrius “KJ” Starkes Jr. was in the care of a contract service provider.
“The provider has terminated their employee,” the agency stated. “Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the identity of the child or the exact circumstances.”
The driver responsible — whose identity has not been publicly released — is cooperating with investigators, according to Birmingham police. The individual was brought to police headquarters for questioning. As of now, the investigation remains open, and no charges have been filed.
In a heartbreaking statement shared through their attorney, KJ’s parents said, “This is a parent’s worst nightmare. Our baby should be alive.” The message was cited by The Independent.
The Jefferson County Coroner’s Office confirmed that KJ’s body has been released to his family following the completion of an autopsy. His official cause of death has not yet been determined.
KJ’s funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, August 2.
At this time, the community’s thoughts and prayers remain with KJ’s family as they endure an unimaginable loss.