Two Foster Children Die After Hours Alone in Hot Cars Virginia, Alabama

Two tragic incidents involving young children in foster care dying after being left in hot cars have led to criminal charges in Virginia and Alabama. In Virginia, Brian L. Dalton, the foster care guardian of a 2-year-old, was charged with abuse, neglect, and involuntary manslaughter after forgetting the child in a car for over eight hours in nearly 90-degree heat. In Alabama, Kela Stanford, a contractor with the Department of Human Resources, was arrested for leaving 3-year-old Ke'Torrius Starkes Jr. in a locked vehicle for about five hours amid triple-digit temperatures, resulting in the child’s death. Both cases highlight systemic failures in child transportation and supervision within foster care systems, with authorities emphasizing the events were accidental but avoidable. Families of the victims expressed grief and a demand for justice, underscoring the need for reforms to prevent such negligence. Investigations are ongoing in both states as officials work to understand the circumstances and implement safeguards against future tragedies.