Columbus, Ohio – Three individuals, including two 16-year-old boys, have been arrested in connection with the tragic death of 29-year-old mother Alexa Stakely. Stakely lost her life while trying to prevent carjackers from stealing her SUV with her sleeping 6-year-old son inside. The Columbus Division of Police revealed that Gerald F. Dowling Jr., 19, and the two juveniles are facing murder charges in relation to the incident.
According to reports, the first arrest was made after one of the minors voluntarily came forward with his parents to the Columbus Police Headquarters. The young boy confessed to his parents after they discussed the tragic events surrounding Stakely’s death. Following this revelation, a second teenager was apprehended, admitting to being present during the car theft. Dowling was the third suspect to surrender to authorities, acknowledging his role in the fatal incident.
Law enforcement officials stated that the juvenile who confessed to stealing Stakely’s vehicle eventually struck and killed her while attempting to drive away. The tragic event occured during the early hours of the morning, as they were scouring for a car to steal. Surveillance footage captured individuals matching the descriptions of the suspects peering into apartments in the area, establishing a timeline of events leading up to Stakely’s untimely death.
Stakely, who had just finished her shift as a waitress, had stopped to pick up her son from the babysitter’s residence. The heartbreaking series of events unfolded as she briefly left her Honda CRV unattended, running, to retrieve a forgotten item from the babysitter’s home. Upon returning to her vehicle, she noticed it rolling back into the road and rushed towards it, only to be struck and fatally injured.
The community mourns the loss of Stakely, a dedicated mother who tragically lost her life while trying to protect her child. The suspects involved in the incident are currently in custody, with authorities seeking to prosecute the two minors as adults. The devastating consequences of this carjacking attempt serve as a stark reminder of the dangers faced by individuals in vulnerable situations. The court proceedings for the suspects are set to take place in the coming weeks, shedding light on the senseless violence that claimed Stakely’s life.