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This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article). –Article last amended: Aug 1 at 23:53:36 UTC (history) |
| This article requires pre-publication review by an uninvolved reviewer (one not substantially involved in writing the article). –Article last amended: Aug 1 at 23:53:36 UTC (history) |
Friday, August 1, 2025
An Alabama worker under state contract has been taken into custody following the death of 3-year-old, who heartbreakingly died last week after being left alone in a vehicle for several hours during sweltering summer temperatures.
, who was in foster care due to concerns about drug use in his home, died on July 22 in Birmingham, Alabama. While in the care of a state contractor hired by the he was left alone inside a parked car with the windows rolled up for about five hours on a day when temperatures exceeded 96 degrees. The contractor was supposed to take him to daycare after a r but instead made personal stops, leaving him in the hot car. K.J. was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. The contractor has been fired, but no criminal charges have yet been filed. The family plans legal action, and state leaders are demanding answers, calling the death a tragic failure of the system responsible for his care.
A candlelight vigil for the boy will be held at 7:30 p.m. on Friday in Bessemer, Alabama, across from the DHR building.
His memorial service will be held at 12:30 p.m.
The department reported that the employee had been let go by the contracting agency. When CNN attempted to reach the agency by phone on Friday, someone answered but said they weren’t taking calls and then ended the call.
