3-year-old boy died after a child protective services-affiliated worker left him locked in a 150-degree vehicle for over 5 hours following a supervised visit with his biological father
Alabama – In a devastating act of negligence in Alabama, a child protective services-affiliated worker, whose identity has not been revealed, has been implicated in the death of a 3-year-old boy, identified as K. Starks, who was left in a sweltering vehicle for over five hours. The child was in the custody of the Alabama Department of Human Resources and under the supervision of a third-party contracted employee at the time of his death. The worker is now under an active criminal investigation and was terminated from their position. While formal charges are still pending, the actions have sparked widespread outrage and demands for accountability.
On Tuesday, July 23, 2025, what should have been a routine supervised visit between the toddler and his biological father ended in fatal negligence. Starks had been dropped off at daycare around 9 a.m. so that a transport worker could take him to a scheduled visit. After the visit concluded at approximately 11:30 a.m., the worker allegedly ran personal errands, including picking up food for her family and visiting a tobacco shop. Instead of returning the 3-year-old boy to daycare, the worker drove home. At around 12:30 p.m., she left the toddler in the parked vehicle outside her residence. The car was turned off, and all the windows were rolled up. The child remained trapped inside the car for approximately five hours as outdoor temperatures soared to 108 degrees. Experts estimate that the internal temperature of the vehicle likely exceeded 150 degrees.
At 5:30 p.m., the boy was discovered unresponsive. Emergency responders arrived and pronounced him dead at the scene at 6:03 p.m. The tragedy marked Alabama’s first hot car death in 2025 and the sixteenth such case in the United States this year. “This is a parent’s worst nightmare. Our baby should be alive,” the boy’s grieving parents said through their attorney. The boy’s aunt told media that when the foster parent arrived at the daycare later that day to pick up Starks, he was not there. Police were the ones to locate the boy and notify the family.
The Alabama Department of Human Resources confirmed that the transport was being handled by a third-party contractor. “A child in DHR custody was being transported by a contract provider when the incident occurred. The provider has terminated their employee. Due to confidentiality, DHR cannot comment further regarding the exact circumstances,” a spokesperson stated. The attorney representing the family condemned the gross mishandling and said, “This is a heartbreaking and preventable tragedy.” They emphasized that the worker blatantly ignored her responsibilities and left the child to die in extreme conditions.
The county coroner’s office officially identified the cause of death as heatstroke. Investigators are continuing to gather evidence and are expected to bring formal charges against the individual responsible. This horrific incident has led to renewed scrutiny of the systems and third-party providers DHR uses to manage child welfare cases. Advocates for child safety are demanding policy changes and stronger oversight to prevent further tragedies. Starks’ death has sparked widespread calls for justice—not only from his family, but also from a community shocked by such an egregious breach of care. The case stands as a chilling reminder of the consequences of systemic negligence and the dire need for reform in child protective services.
