Current:Home > FinanceOhio mother dies after chasing down car with her 6-year-old son inside -FutureFinance
Ohio mother dies after chasing down car with her 6-year-old son inside
View
Date:2025-04-17 02:23:45
Ohio police are looking for two male suspects in connection with the death of a mother who attempted to stop her car from being stolen with her 6-year-old son inside at a Columbus apartment complex.
The Franklin County Coroner's office confirmed 29-year-old Alexa Stakely died at Mount Carmel East Hospital Thursday morning.
Columbus police said that Stakely went around 1:30 a.m. Thursday to the 6300 block of Blue Knoll Drive at the White Oak Park Condominiums to pick up her son from a babysitter. She brought the sleeping boy out to her Honda CRV, which she left running, while she met the babysitter in the doorway to get the boy's belongings, police said.
As Stakely began to return to her vehicle, she saw someone inside beginning to back out onto the roadway. Stakely ran out toward the Honda and was heard screaming for her child and telling the driver to stop.
At some point, police said Stakely was struck by the Honda and knocked to the pavement, suffering a "fatal wound" to her head.
The vehicle was abandoned a short distance away from where Stakely was struck. Two males were seen running northbound past where she was on the ground, jumping a fence and escaping into a neighboring apartment complex, police said.
Earlier that same morning, police said surveillance video caught a group of males looking into apartments in the Castenea Way area, which is a block away from Blue Knoll where the incident with Stakely occurred. Two of the males in that group matched the description of the males who were seen running past Stakely after she had been hit, police said.
Medics transported Stakely in critical condition to Mount Carmel East Hospital, where she later died from her injuries at 8:43 a.m.
Elementary school mourning death of 'Ms. Alexa'
Stakely was a speech-language pathologist for Winchester Trail Elementary School in the Canal Winchester Local Schools, the district confirmed Thursday. "Ms. Alexa," as she was known to students, had been with the district for five years, according to a media release. Stakely, a single mother, also worked a second job as a waitress in order to support her 6-year-old son. She had just finished her shift and was picking up her son from the babysitter's home.
"Alexa was passionate about children and speech-language therapy. She was smart and compassionate, and she cared so much about helping children develop their ability to communicate," the district said.
"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."
A resident of Pickerington, Stakely graduated from Ohio State University with a master's degree in speech-language pathology, according to her LinkedIn page.
Anyone with information — including doorbell camera footage that may have captured footage of what happened — is asked to call Columbus police homicide detectives at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS. All calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.
veryGood! (722)
Related
- Former Syrian official arrested in California who oversaw prison charged with torture
- As Washington crime spikes, DOJ vows to send more resources to reeling city
- Coronavirus FAQ: How long does my post-COVID protection last? When is it booster time?
- Parents demand answers after UIUC student found dead feet from where he went missing
- Average rate on 30
- Eileen Gu chooses ‘All of the Above’ when faced with choices involving skiing, Stanford and style
- How to find your Spotify Daylist: Changing playlists that capture 'every version of you'
- Environmental officials working to clean up fuel after fiery tanker truck crash in Ohio
- Why we love Bear Pond Books, a ski town bookstore with a French bulldog 'Staff Pup'
- Plastic surgery helped murder suspect Kaitlin Armstrong stay on the run
Ranking
- Military service academies see drop in reported sexual assaults after alarming surge
- Charges against country singer Chris Young in Nashville bar arrest have been dropped
- Why Jessie James Decker Thinks Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's Romance Could Go All the Way
- John Harbaugh credits Andy Reid for teaching him early NFL lessons
- Off the Grid: Sally breaks down USA TODAY's daily crossword puzzle, Triathlon
- This state is quickly becoming America's clean energy paradise. Here's how it's happening.
- Haitians suffering gang violence are desperate after Kenyan court blocks police force deployment
- Haitians suffering gang violence are desperate after Kenyan court blocks police force deployment
Recommendation
Senate begins final push to expand Social Security benefits for millions of people
Rite Aid to close 10 additional stores: See full list of nearly 200 locations shutting their doors
Nitrogen hypoxia execution was sold as 'humane' but witnesses said Kenneth Smith was gasping for air
Tea with salt? American scientist's outrageous proposal leaves U.S.-U.K. relations in hot water, embassy says
Romantasy reigns on spicy BookTok: Recommendations from the internet’s favorite genre
After LA police raid home of Black Lives Matter attorney, a judge orders photographs destroyed
Transgender swimmer Lia Thomas seeks CAS ruling to allow her to compete
U.S. women's figure skating at a crossroads amid Olympic medal drought of nearly 20 years