Police released body camera footage showing a toddler was found unharmed inside his mother’s stolen pickup truck.
The tragic incident occurred moments after Alexa Stakely, a 29-year-old Ohio mother and speech language pathologist, threw herself onto the hood of the vehicle as the robber sped off before falling off, leaving her with fatal head injuries.
In doing so, he died trying to save the life of his six-year-old son after the suspect attempted to steal the vehicle in which the six-year-old was sleeping.
When police arrived, they found the vehicle parked with the child still sleeping and unharmed inside the vehicle.
An officer’s voice is heard speaking softly to the boy, who slept through the entire incident, asking him if he was safe and whether or not he knew who took the car.
When police arrived, they found the vehicle parked with the child still sleeping and unharmed inside the vehicle.
Police released body camera footage revealing a toddler was found unharmed inside his mother’s stolen pickup truck
“What’s your name, friend?” the officer asks.
Do you know who took the car? Who was driving?
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.
The suspect fled the scene on foot and has not yet been arrested.
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.
An officer’s voice is heard speaking softly to the boy, who slept through the entire incident, asking him if he was safe and whether or not he knew who took the car.
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 she helped my son so much. We prayed and prayed 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.
TO GoFundMe Stakley has been honored to support his family.