Alexa Stakely, a single mother from Ohio, was tragically killed while trying to prevent the theft of her vehicle with her 6-year-old son inside. All three suspects involved have been taken into custody, one of them being a 16-year-old who admitted to driving Stakely’s vehicle. The suspects, including two minors, were looking for a car to steal when they came across Stakely’s Honda. The 16-year-old panicked and drove off, striking Stakely and causing a fatal head wound, leaving her dead. Stakely’s son was found unharmed and asleep during the attempted carjacking.
Stakely, who was a speech-language pathologist and part-time waitress to support her son, was described as loving her son fiercely and being loyal to her family and friends. Her brother, Braedyn Price, expressed deep grief over her loss and said he feels empty since her passing.
Carjackings have been on the rise in some U.S. cities since the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting authorities to crack down on crime. In 1992, the murder of Pamela Basu during a carjacking incident led to the passing of the Federal Anti-Car Theft Act to toughen carjacking laws. Basu was dragged to her death after attempting to save her 2-year-old daughter from the carjackers. The incident shocked the nation and resulted in increased efforts to combat carjacking-related violence.
Photo credit
www.usatoday.com