A tragic incident in Birmingham, Alabama, led to the death of 2-year-old Ke’Torrius “KJ” Starkes Jr., who was left inside a hot car for nearly five hours on June 22. According to police, KJ had been in the vehicle from around 12:30 PM to 5:30 PM, during a day when outside temperatures reached 96°F and the car’s interior may have hit 150°F. He was pronounced dead at 6:03 PM.

KJ had been placed in the custody of the Department of Human Resources (DHR) due to concerns about drug use in his home. That day, a contract worker from Covenant Services Inc. picked him up for a supervised visit with his father but allegedly ran personal errands afterward, leaving the child strapped in his car seat.

“This is a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy,” said family attorney Courtney French. “The very system meant to protect KJ caused his death.”

DHR confirmed the incident involved a contract provider and stated the employee was fired. The driver has cooperated with police, but no charges have been filed yet.

KJ’s parents said through their lawyer, “Our baby should be alive.” His funeral is scheduled for August 2, and the cause of death remains under investigation.