COLUMBUS, Ohio – In a tragic turn of events in Columbus, Ohio, a mother died after a desperate attempt to stop a thief who was driving away in her car with her young son inside. The incident occurred in the early hours of Thursday morning, at the intersection of Annual Drive and Blue Knoll Drive. Alexa Stakely, 29, had just picked up her 6-year-old son from his babysitter when she momentarily left him in the running car to retrieve an item from the babysitter’s home.
According to law enforcement, Stakely noticed the car backing into the roadway as she was returning. In a panic, she screamed for her child and in a bid to stop the thief, climbed onto the hood of the car. Unfortunately, the car thief drove erratically, causing Stakely to fall and sustain a critical head injury.
Stakely was quickly taken to Mount Carmel East Hospital in critical condition, where she unfortunately succumbed to her injuries shortly afterwards. Meanwhile, police found the vehicle abandoned in a parking lot near the scene with the child still asleep inside.
Known affectionately as “Ms. Alexa,” Stakely was a dedicated mother and a speech pathologist at Canal Winchester Schools, where she was beloved for her compassion and commitment to helping students. She had been employed at Winchester Trail Elementary for five years.
Following the tragic incident, the community and Canal Winchester Schools mourned the loss of Stakely. The school district described her as a smart and compassionate individual who was deeply dedicated to her son and her students.
Police are now actively searching for the suspects, described as two males who fled the scene. They are reviewing surveillance footage from the area and have asked for the public’s help in identifying the individuals involved.
The case is currently being led by Detective Lemmon of the Columbus Police Department, who is urging anyone with further information or video footage of the incident to come forward.
This heartbreaking story highlights not just a sense of loss for the family and community but also raises concerns about public safety and crime prevention in the area.