Ke’Torrius ‘KJ’ Starkes Jr. dies in fatal Birmingham environmental hyperthermia
Fatal Birmingham environmental hyperthermia death of Ke’Torrius ‘KJ’ Starkes Jr.
An official autopsy report has determined the final cause of death for a 3-year-old child who passed away after being unintentionally left inside a vehicle in a heated car situation in Birmingham back on July 22nd.
The medical examiner has officially stated that KE’TORRIUS STARKES JR. succumbed to environmental hyperthermia, with the death being classified as an accident.
Ke’Torrius ‘KJ’ Starkes, a child from Bessemer, was discovered alone inside the parked car at a residence located in the 1500 block of Pine Tree Drive in Birmingham.
The autopsy records indicate that the temperature outside the vehicle remained between 92 and 96 degrees Fahrenheit during the period he was confined within the car, which had lasted for at least five hours.
At the time of the tragic incident, Starkes was receiving assistance from the Alabama Department of Human Resources. His transportation arrangements were handled by Kela Stanford, who was employed by Covenant Services.
Covenant Services was contracted specifically by DHR to aid in the transportation of children.
Stanford, who is 54 years old, is the former employee formally accused in this case. She was arrested on August 1st.
She faces charges related to leaving a child in a vehicle. These charges stem from her role during a supervised visit where she was supposed to return the child to his daycare.
This charge falls under the terms of the Amiyah White Act. The act explicitly forbids leaving a child or a vulnerable individual in a vehicle without proper supervision in a way that poses a significant risk of harm.
Starkes was under the care of the Alabama Department of Human Resources and was being transported by Kela Stanford.
Stanford, 54, the former worker criminally charged in the case, was supposed to take the child back to his daycare following a supervised visit with his father.
Stanford is charged with leaving a child in a vehicle. She was arrested on August 1st.
The charge, which is part of the Amiyah White Act, prohibits leaving a child or incapacitated person unattended in a motor vehicle in a manner that creates an unreasonable risk of injury or harm.
The autopsy shows temperatures outside the vehicle were between 92 and 96 degrees during the time he was left in the vehicle which was at least five hours.
Starkes was under the care of the Alabama Department of Human Resources and was being transported by Kela Stanford who was a Covenant Services employee at the time of his death. Covenan SERVICES WAS CONTRACTED BY DHR TO HELP WITH CHILD TRANSPORTATION.
Stanford, 54, the former worker criminally charged in the case, was supposed to take the child back to his daycare following a supervised visit with his father.
