Birmingham, Alabama, August 2, 2025

News Summary

Kela Stanford, a contracted employee for Covenant Services, has been arrested in connection with the tragic heatstroke death of 3-year-old Ke’Torrius Starkes Jr. The child was left unattended in a hot vehicle for about five hours, leading to significant community outcry and demands for accountability. Under the Amiyah White Act, Stanford faces serious charges which highlight ongoing concerns regarding child safety within state departments.

Birmingham, Alabama: Woman Arrested in Connection with Fatal Heatstroke of 3-Year-Old Ke’Torrius Starkes Jr.

Kela Stanford, a 54-year-old contracted employee for Covenant Services, has been arrested following the tragic death of 3-year-old Ke’Torrius Starkes Jr., who succumbed to heatstroke after being left unattended in a hot vehicle for approximately five hours. The incident, which occurred on July 22, 2025, has raised significant concerns regarding child safety and accountability within the applicable state departments.

Stanford has been charged under the Amiyah White Act for leaving a child in a vehicle, which has specific legal penalties aimed at preventing such tragedies. The incident began around 12:30 p.m. when Ke’Torrius was picked up from daycare by Stanford. She reported getting sidetracked while running errands and forgot that the child was still in the back seat when she returned home. Emergency services were called after Ke’Torrius was found unresponsive at approximately 5:30 p.m. on Pinetree Drive. He was pronounced dead about 30 minutes later.

The timeline was confirmed by the Jefferson County Coroner, who pronounced Ke’Torrius dead at the scene at 6:03 p.m. The interior temperature of the vehicle could have exceeded 140 degrees, creating a life-threatening environment for the child over the extended period he was in the car. Stanford’s arrest occurred on August 1, 2025, after an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the incident, during which she was booked into the Jefferson County Jail and released on a $30,000 bond shortly thereafter.

In the wake of the incident, the foster and biological families of Ke’Torrius have expressed their profound devastation, calling for answers and accountability from both Covenant Services and the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR). DHR representatives have stated they cannot comment on specific circumstances due to confidentiality policies, prompting further concerns and demands for transparency from the community.

Attorney Courtney French, who is representing Ke’Torrius’ family, described the situation as one of “reprehensible and gross negligence”, asserting that the incident was preventable. Community members have voiced their outrage and created plans for a vigil and a balloon release in his memory, underlining the impact of this tragedy on the Bessemer community.

The Amiyah White Act, which was legislated in 2013 following a similar tragic incident, aims to impose legal penalties for leaving a child under age seven unattended in a vehicle, highlighting the seriousness of this charge against Stanford. If convicted, she faces a potential Class B felony charge, which could result in imprisonment ranging from 2 to 20 years.

Ke’Torrius Starkes Jr. had been in foster care since his birth and was scheduled for a visit with his biological father on the day of the incident. Plans for his funeral service are set to take place at the Sixth Avenue Beulah Baptist Church, with community support being extended in the midst of this heartbreaking loss.

Key Details Summary

• Incident Date: July 22, 2025
• Charge: Leaving a child in a vehicle, Amiyah White Act violation
• Victim: Ke’Torrius Starkes Jr., 3
• Suspect: Kela Stanford, 54
• Temperature in Vehicle: Exceeded 140 degrees
• Legal Consequences: Class B felony, 2-20 years imprisonment
• Community Response: Organizing vigil and balloon release
• Funeral Service: Scheduled at Sixth Avenue Beulah Baptist Church

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Additional Resources

• WOWT
• Wikipedia: Heat stroke
• WBRC
• Google Search: hot car death children
• ABC News
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Child neglect
• New York Times
• Google News: Alabama hot car death

Author: STAFF HERE BIRMINGHAM WRITER

The BIRMINGHAM STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HEREBirmingham.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Birmingham, Jefferson County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as the Sidewalk Film Festival, Sloss Music & Arts Festival, Magic City Classic, and civil rights commemorations. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Birmingham Business Alliance and the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute, plus leading businesses in healthcare, finance, and manufacturing that power the local economy such as UAB Medicine, Regions Bank, and Encompass Health. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREHuntsville.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Alabama's dynamic landscape.