CANAL WINCHESTER, OH – A mother who attempted to save her sleeping 6-year-old son from carjackers died Thursday after being thrown onto the pavement by the thieves. Alexa Stakely, 29, had just placed her son in his car seat and returned to a babysitter’s condo to collect some belongings around 1:30 a.m. when the incident occurred, according to local police.
Upon returning to her 2022 Honda SUV, Stakely discovered a stranger in the driver’s seat. In a desperate attempt to stop the carjacker, she leaped onto the hood of the vehicle. The thief accelerated, causing Stakely to fall and sustain a fatal head injury.
Authorities are searching for two male suspects who abandoned the vehicle a short distance away, leaving the child unharmed. Surveillance footage captured the suspects peering into windows earlier that night, indicating they were part of a larger group.
Stakely, a speech-language therapist at a local elementary school, earned her master’s degree from Ohio State University. She was a single mother who also worked as a waitress to support her son. School officials described her as a dedicated mother and a valued member of the community.
Police are urging anyone with information about the suspects or security footage of the incident to contact Central Ohio Crime Stoppers. This tragic incident highlights a troubling trend, with 56 similar cases reported nationwide in 2024 involving children left alone in stolen vehicles.
Amber Rollins, director of Kids and Car Safety, emphasized the importance of never leaving children unattended in vehicles, urging parents to lock their doors even for brief moments.