BIRMINGHAM, Ala. ( WBRC ) - The woman accused of leaving 3-year-old Ketorrius “KJ” Starkes in a hot car for hours appeared in court on Wednesday, Oct. 1, for a preliminary hearing.

Detectives testified that Kela Stanford made three stops the day of Starkes’ death - two of them within the same block of his daycare. Investigators also said she returned home more than once while the toddler was still in the backseat of her car.

Family members filled the courtroom as they heard details of the case.

Detectives said Stanford admitted she was negligent while Starkes was in her care. They said that during the five hours he was left inside her vehicle , she was inside her home watching movies with family members and opening packages from Amazon.

“This is a mother’s worst nightmare. No

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