Three arrests made in Alexa Stakely death

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) — Two teenagers, both 16-year-old boys, and a 19-year-old man have been arrested in the death of Alexa Stakely, a single mother who was killed while trying to stop a carjacking while her son was in the car.

According to the Columbus Division of Police, the first teen, from Canal Winchester, was brought to police headquarters by his parents, where he agreed to an interview with detectives. The boy allegedly confessed to stealing Stakely’s car on July 11 and hitting her with the vehicle.

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Sgt. Joe Albert, a spokesperson for Columbus police, said the teen approached his parents about the crime; they then took him to police headquarters.

“He said when Ms. Stakely approached the vehicle, it startled him, he panicked, he began to drive away and unfortunately struck Ms. Stakely,” Albert said.

A few hours after announcing the first arrest, police announced that a second 16-year-old, also from Canal Winchester, was interviewed about the case when he also allegedly admitted to being at the scene of the carjacking. The two teens are charged with murder.

Approximately an hour later, a police spokesperson said 19-year-old Gerald Dowling, of Dublin, also agreed to be interviewed by police, where he allegedly admitted to being present during the carjacking; he has also been charged with murder. Dowling is scheduled to appear in court Thursday morning.

Albert said police are not looking for any other suspects in the case.

Stakely died after being struck around 1:30 a.m. that morning. She was picking up her child from his babysitter’s apartment. Police said that while the child was asleep in the car and Stakely ran back to the apartment to pick up the boy’s belongings, someone started to drive away in her vehicle. Stakely was hit and killed by the car, which was found abandoned nearby with her son safe and still asleep inside.

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Stakely, a single mother who worked as a speech therapist in the Canal Winchester school district, had just finished a shift at her second job when she arrived to pick up her son.

Surveillance photos and videos show three suspects walking away from the abandoned vehicle and heading north on Brywood Green Drive on the city’s southeast side.

Police are asking residents of Brynwood Green Drive, White Oak Park Condominiums, The Green, Brynwood Reserve, The Residences at James Place, and the Residents at Akita Lane for any video they may have that shows the suspects in the early morning of July 11.

Anyone with any additional information is asked to contact Columbus Police Det. Lemmon at 614-645-2558, email ralemmon@columbuspolice.org, or scan the QR code to submit any relevant video of the incident.

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