Three suspects have been taken into custody in connection with the death of Alexa Stakely, a Ohio mom who was struck while trying to prevent the theft of her vehicle with her 6-year-old son inside. A 16-year-old male admitted to driving Stakely’s vehicle and is being charged with delinquency murder. The second male, 17, was also taken into custody. A third male, Gerald Dowling, 19, turned himself in and was charged with murder. Stakely was picking up her son after work when she saw someone trying to steal her vehicle. She was hit and killed by the 16-year-old as he drove off. Stakely’s son was unharmed and asleep during the incident.
Stakely was described as a single mother, speech-language pathologist, and waitress who loved her son fiercely. Her brother, Braedyn Price, described her as his best friend and mentor. Price said he feels empty since her passing and struggles to sleep. Violent carjackings in the U.S. have increased in some cities since the COVID-19 pandemic, prompting a crackdown on crime by authorities. The Federal Anti-Car Theft Act of 1992 was passed after the murder of Pamela Basu, who was dragged to her death by carjackers. This incident shocked the country and led to tougher carjacking laws being implemented in response to violent incidents.
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