Lucy Devine
Three people have been arrested after a mother was killed while trying to rescue her son from suspected carjackers.
Alexa Stakely died from fatal injuries after she was hit with her own vehicle in Ohio on July 11, police have confirmed.
After the horrific incident, Alexa's car was abandoned with her son still asleep inside the vehicle.
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Police have confirmed that the child was unharmed when the car was found.
Authorities had been searching for suspects and now, three people have been arrested - a 19-year-old man and two other teenagers who have not been named.
One of the teenagers allegedly turned himself in at the police HQ. He arrived with his parents and reportedly admitted to hitting Alexa and stealing the car.
Police later interviewed a second teenager who was present during the incident.
Both have been charged with murder.
According to jail records, Gerald Dowling, 19 has also been charged with murder but it is not clear if any of the teenagers have entered a plea.
Alexa, a single mom, had finished a shift at her second job when she was collecting her son from his babysitter's.
The 29-year-old also worked as a speech pathologist at the Canal Winchester School District.
Alexa had strapped her son in and started the car, when she had to run back to the babysitter's house to collect something.
When she returned, she noticed the car was moving and she ran after it.
She was then hit by the vehicle before it drove away.
“Alexa was passionate about children and speech-language therapy,” the Canal Winchester School District said.
“She was smart and compassionate, and she cared so much about helping children develop their ability to communicate.
"She was a great mom who was incredibly dedicated to her son. Ms. Stakely made a difference in the lives of the students and families she worked with and will be missed by so many in our community and beyond."
A GoFundMe which was created for Alexa's son has so far raised over $96,000.
It reads: "Alexa Lee Stakley was one of the best people you’d ever meet. She was beautiful inside and out and left a mark on this world in the short time she had.
"She was a speech language pathologist at Canal Winchester and was adored by her students. She was a coffee addict, loved anything with salt on it, and had a soft spot for trash tv. She was incredibly smart and sassy in the best way. She will be incredibly missed by the people’s lives she touched.
"This tragedy is truly one of the most heartbreaking terrible things imaginable and we just want everyone who knew her to be able to remember her in the best way they can. She was always smiling and laughing and never taking life too seriously.
"She is succeeded by her six year old son... and we want to make sure he has everything he needs moving forward."
UNILAD has contacted Columbus Division of Police for comment.