Ohio mother dies after trying to stop car theft with 6-year-old child inside

A mother who tried to prevent her car from being stolen with her 6-year-old son inside has died.

The Franklin County Coroner’s Office confirmed that Alexa Stakely, 29, died at Mount Carmel East Hospital Thursday morning.

Columbus police told 10TV that Stakely went to the White Oak Park condominiums on the city’s southeast side around 1:30 a.m. Thursday to pick up her son from a babysitter. She brought the sleeping boy to her Honda CRV, which she left running while she went inside to get other belongings, police said.

The television station reported that police said Stakely went back outside and saw someone in her vehicle start to drive away. Stakely jumped on the hood of the vehicle, yelling at the driver to stop.

The carjacker drove the SUV through the complex with Stakely still on the hood, police said. At some point, Stakely was thrown from the vehicle, suffering serious injuries.

Shortly after, the driver stopped the vehicle and fled. The driver has not been identified by police.

Police told 10TV that the child remained in the vehicle and asleep throughout the incident and was taken back to the babysitter.

Anyone with information or doorbell camera footage that may show the incident is asked to call detectives at 614-645-4730 or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-TIPS. All calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.

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