The woman accused in a hot car death last summer was re-arrested after an indictment erroneously gave her no bond, according to court documents.
Kela Stanford, 55, was indicted by a Jefferson County grand jury for leaving a child unattended in a motor vehicle. Stanford, a contract driver for the Alabama Department of Human Resources (DHR), was arrested after the July 23, 2025, death of Ke'Torrius "KJ" Starkes, Jr. The three-year-old was found dead after being left in a hot car for nearly five hours.
Prosecutors said Stanford was supposed to take the child to day care after visitation with his family, but instead, she went home.
SEE ALSO: State Rep. Sellers calls for reform in hot car death of 3-year-old in DHR custody
The family of the child has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against DHR and Stanford.
Stanford was given a $30,000 bond, but after the Jefferson County grand jury indictment read "no bond," Stanford was re-arrested on March 23. She was released after a sheriff's releasing order stated the $30,000 was reinstated. According to an order by District Judge Kandice Pickett, "The GJ set a NO BOND in error, the defendant is continued on the same $30,000 bond previously made."
Stanford is considered innocent until proven guilty.
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