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Legal document claims multiple failures contributed to the death of a 3-year-old in state care.

The family of Keterrius “KJ” Starkes Jr., a three-year-old who tragically died after being left in a hot car for over five hours, has initiated a wrongful death lawsuit in Jefferson County Circuit Court. This heartbreaking incident has sparked widespread outcry for a review of the foster care system in Alabama.

State Senator Merica Coleman (D-Preer Grove), reflecting the sentiments of many, expressed her devastation, stating, “As a mother and as a senator in the district where this tragedy took place, I am heartbroken.” The lawsuit, filed on August 8, names both known and unidentified fictitious defendants, including Kera Stanford, Covenant Services, its executive director Roderick Henderson, and several employees from Jefferson County and Alabama’s Human Resources Office. The family claims negligence and other wrongful acts contributed to the child’s death.

Court filings reveal that on July 22, KJ was under the supervision of the Alabama Department of Personnel Affairs for a visit with his father, overseen by Stanford, an employee of Covenant Services. After the visit concluded around 11:30 a.m., Stanford returned home about an hour later, leaving KJ strapped in the parked car with the windows up and the engine off, while she attended to other personal matters.

Related: 3-year-old child dies after being left in a hot car while in DHR custody

Authorities noted that KJ was in the vehicle from approximately 12:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at a residence in Birmingham, where the National Weather Service had issued heat advisories due to temperatures exceeding 95 degrees, and heat indices reaching as high as 109 degrees. It’s estimated that the interior of the car could have soared to 150 degrees.

Birmingham Fire and Rescue responded when KJ was discovered, but he was pronounced dead at 6:03 p.m. The lawsuit alleges that during the time KJ was unaccounted for, none of the defendants checked on him.

The complaint also argues that the defendants failed in their duty to ensure safe transport and protect the child from negligence and potential harm, maintaining that KJ remained in a hazardous situation that ultimately led to his death.

On August 1, Stanford, age 54, was arrested and charged with leaving a child in a vehicle, resulting in serious physical injury, as stated by the Jefferson County District Attorney’s Office. The family is seeking punitive damages and court costs.