
<a href="https://reason.com/2025/08/13/brickbat-big-brother-isnt-watching/" target="_blank">View original image source</a>.
In an utterly tragic case that leaves you shaking your head, Kela Stanford, a contract worker for the Alabama Department of Human Resources, is facing felony charges after the untimely death of 3-year-old Ke’Torrius Starkes Jr. What happened? Well, Kela had taken the child for a supervised visit with his father but made an unfortunate detour. Instead of returning to day care, she decided to run a few personal errands—including a stop at a restaurant and a tobacco shop—before leaving him in her hot car outside her home. Not exactly the responsible behavior you’d hope for, right?
On a day where temperatures peaked in the high 90s, glancing at her phone while running errands turned fatal for little Starkes, who was left in the car for a staggering five hours. The tragic twist? It wasn’t until the day care called Kela asking about the child that the harrowing truth emerged—Ke’Torrius was dead. This heartbreaking story reminds us of how negligence can take a devastating turn, especially involving the most vulnerable among us.
Now, you might be wondering, why didn’t she just take the kid back to day care first? Could a simple conversation have changed everything? Perhaps this tale serves as a grim reminder that multitasking, especially with kids involved, should be approached with a lot more caution. What do you think the consequences should be for someone who neglects their caregiving duties like this? Let’s discuss!
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