Police have released body camera footage showing a young boy being found unharmed in his mother’s stolen SUV.
The tragic incident occurred moments after Alexa Stakely, 29, an Ohio mother and speech therapist, threw herself onto the hood of the vehicle as the thief sped away. She fell off and suffered fatal head injuries.
She died trying to save her six-year-old son’s life after the suspect tried to steal the car the six-year-old was sleeping in.
When police arrived, they found the parked vehicle with the child inside, still asleep and unharmed.
We hear an officer’s voice softly talking to the child, who has been asleep throughout the incident, asking if the child is safe and if he knows who took the car.
When police arrived, they found the parked vehicle with the child still asleep and unharmed inside the vehicle
Police have released body camera footage showing a young boy found unharmed in his mother’s stolen SUV
“What’s your name, buddy?” the officers ask.
“Do you know who took the car? Who was driving?”
According to police, the mother had loaded her sleeping son into her Honda CR-V, but ran back to the babysitter’s apartment to retrieve something.
Then the car thief jumped into her car, which was still running, and drove away. reports WSYX.
The suspect fled on foot and has not yet been arrested.
Officers with the Columbus Division of Police responded to the White Oak Park Condominiums north of Canal Winchester in southeast Columbus around 1:30 a.m. Thursday.
When officers arrived, they found Stakely seriously injured. They transported her to Mount Carmel East Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Canal Winchester Schools posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook to Stakely, a dedicated speech therapist who worked with preschoolers at Winchester Trail Elementary.
“Ms. Alexa,” as she was called by her students, had worked for the district for five years.
“Ms. Stakely’s family shared that she died heroically trying to save her 6-year-old son during a carjacking. Thankfully, her son was not injured and is now with family. Please keep Alexa’s son, family, and friends in your prayers during this difficult time,” the district wrote in the Facebook post.
We hear an officer’s voice softly talking to the child, who has been asleep throughout the incident, asking if the child is safe and if he knows who took the car.
Alexa Stakely, 29, a speech therapist, picked up her 6-year-old son from a babysitter after finishing her shift at her second job
“Alexa was passionate about children and speech therapy,” the post read. “She was smart and compassionate, and cared deeply about helping children develop their communication skills.
“She was a wonderful mother who was incredibly devoted to her son. Mrs. Stakely made a difference in the lives of the students and families she worked with and she will be missed by so many in our community and beyond.”
The comments below the post were filled with emotion as parents shared how Stakely had made a difference in their children’s lives.
“She doted on all three of my youngest boys and is a major reason my youngest two have such clear speech today. She will be greatly missed,” one mother wrote in a comment.
“This is absolutely devastating and heartbreaking,” said one mother. “My son adored her for the past 2 years and saw her at school almost every day.
“She was an amazing speech therapist and person and helped my son so much. I send prayers upon prayers to her son and family.”
Police are asking anyone with information or surveillance footage to come forward as they track down the suspect.
a GoFundMe has given Stakley credit for supporting her family.