Carjackings are always scary, but they're even more terrifying when a child is involved. Sometimes, a person stealing a car has no idea a child is sleeping in the back of the vehicle. The terror that caregivers must experience as the crime unfolds is unimaginable.
Recently, an Ohio mom was put in this exact scenario when someone stole her SUV with her 6-year-old son in the back seat. She attempted to thwart the carjackers but died in the process. Now, her community is mourning the loss of a beloved teacher.
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Alexa Stakely died after trying to save her son during a carjacking in Columbus, Ohio.
In the early morning hours of July 11, Stakely was struck by her SUV when she attempted to stop two carjackers, People reported. She suffered traumatic injuries from the incident, including a head injury. Sadly, she died after being rushed to Mount Carmel East hospital in critical condition, ABC News 6 reported.
She just had picked up her 6-year-old at a babysitter's home when the incident unfolded.
Stakely picked up her son at 1:30 a.m. July 11 from a babysitter's home at a Southeast Side apartment complex, The Columbus Dispatch reported. Police said she brought her sleeping 6-year-old to her Honda SUV before realizing she forgot something. Stakely left her vehicle running as she returned to the front door of the home.
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The carjackers hit Stakely after she attempted to stop the SUV from leaving.
When Stakely turned around to go back to the SUV, it was backing out of the driveway. She ran after the vehicle and yelled for her son. After she got on the hood of the SUV, it started driving erratically, knocking her off before striking her, ABC 6 News reported.
Police found her son in the back seat of the vehicle, unharmed.
Columbus police released body camera footage of an officer finding the SUV not far away with Stakely's son sleeping in the back seat. The boy was unharmed and is in the care of family members. A GoFundMe campaign was created to help Stakely's son and has raised more than $70,000 thus far, exceeding its goal.
Meanwhile, police are still seeking two male suspects seen running from the scene.
Canal Winchester Schools posted a tribute to Stakely on social media.
Canal Winchester Schools announced the news of Stakely's death via Facebook. She worked as a speech-language pathologist at the district.
"'Ms. Alexa,' as her students knew her, was a dedicated Speech-Language Therapist in our preschool program at Winchester Trail Elementary and had been with our district for five years," the message on July 11 read.
The tribute continued, "She was smart and compassionate, and she cared so much about helping children develop their ability to communicate. She was a great mom who was incredibly dedicated to her son. Ms. Stakely made a difference in the lives of the students and families she worked with and will be missed by so many in our community and beyond."
