New details have emerged in connection with a 3-year-old Alabama boy who died in a hot car earlier this month, allegedly at the hands of a state worker.
According to police, Ke’Torrius Starkes Jr. was locked inside a parked car for five hours in Birmingham on July 22. The incident happened on Pinetree Drive, from around 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Birmingham police said a state worker with Covenant Services, contracted through the Department of Human Resources, picked the child up from daycare, to take him to his father for a supervised visit, as CrimeOnline reported.
The family’s attorney, Courtney French, told WTTO that the worker planned to take Ke’Torrius back to daycare. Instead, she allegedly picked up food for her family and stopped to get tobacco.
The employee then went home — leaving Starks in the vehicle for roughly five hours, according to the news outlet.
“I went to the daycare. And I got sidetracked and stopped off and got something to eat, and when I came out instead of going to the left to the daycare because I got called and said I didn’t have a case, I instantly said to myself, ‘oh I’m done for the day. I’m going to go home,’” the worker said during a call to the child’s family, obtained by NBC 13.
Family member: “This baby died in a car. He suffocated. He didn’t have no help. No nothing. You had the child safety lock on the doors. You didn’t think to look in the back seat?!”
Worker: “No ma’am, I did not… I wouldn’t have killed no child.”
The child’s father was heard questioning the worker on how she could leave his son in the car, with the worker repeatedly apologizing.
Birmingham police Sgt. Laquitta Wade told NBC News that the incident appeared to be a tragic mistake.
“At this time, the only thing that I can say is that we believe it [the child’s death] was accidental,” Wade said.
The worker has been cooperative with police in the investigation, and no formal charges have been filed. She has since been terminated from her position.
Wade said it’s now up to prosecutors whether charges will be filed.
Check back for updates.
[Feature Photo: Family Handout]
