An Ohio teacher died saving her son’s life after a carjacker tried to steal the car the six-year-old boy was sleeping in.
Alexa Stakely, 29, a speech-language pathologist, threw herself onto the hood of the vehicle as the robber sped away before falling off and suffering fatal injuries.
Police said the mother had loaded her sleeping son into her Honda CR-V but ran to the nanny’s apartment to pick up something.
That’s when the carjacker jumped into his car, which was running, and drove off. reports WSYX. Stakely chased the suspect and tried to stop him before throwing himself into the car.
The suspect fled the scene on foot and has not yet been arrested.
An Ohio teacher died saving her son’s life after an armed robber tried to steal the car in which the six-year-old boy was sleeping.
When police arrived, they found the vehicle parked with the child still sleeping inside the vehicle.
Columbus Division of Police officers 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. She was transported to Mount Carmel East Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.
Canal Winchester Schools posted a heartfelt tribute on Facebook to Stakely, a dedicated speech and language therapist who worked with preschoolers at Winchester Trail Elementary School.
“Ms. Alexa,” as her students called her, had worked in the district for five years.
“Ms. Stakely’s family shared that she died heroically while trying to save her 6-year-old son during a carjacking. Thankfully, her son was not injured and is now with his family. Please keep Alexa’s son, family and friends in your prayers during this difficult time,” the district wrote in the Facebook post.
Alexa Stakely, 29, a speech-language pathologist, was picking up her 6-year-old son from a babysitter’s apartment after finishing her shift for her second job.
“Alexa was passionate about children and speech and language therapy,” the post said. “She was smart and compassionate, and cared deeply about helping children develop their ability to communicate. She was a great mother 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 many in our community and beyond.”
An outpouring of emotion filled the comments section of the post, as parents recounted the ways Stakely had made a difference in their children’s lives.
“She poured herself into my three youngest children and is one of the main reasons my two youngest children speak so clearly 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 last two years, he saw her almost every day at school. She was a speech therapist and an amazing person and helped my son so much. I am sending prayers and more prayers for her son and her family.”
Police are urging anyone with information or surveillance footage to come forward as they continue to search for the suspect.
