CANAL WINCHESTER, Ohio (WCMH) – As friends and co-workers honor her legacy, a community is looking for answers after the life of a beloved mother and speech therapist was cut short by crime.
Alexa Stakley, 29, lost her life trying to save her son from an attempted carjacking. Her brothers spoke with NBC4 on Thursday, remembering her as a loving and caring sister. She was also a speech therapist in a preschool program in Canal Winchester.
“Everything she did she did whole heartedly, she didn't half do anything," said Megan Mayes, a speech therapist who worked with Stakely.
Mayes and Britney Champlin worked with Stakely in Canal Winchester Local Schools for five years. They described her as a force and an incredible advocate for her students. They also said she was amazing at her job, as a mom and as a friend.
“She just had that persona about her that you want to have in your corner because she cares and loves so much," Champlin said.
At around 1:30 a.m. Thursday after getting off work at a local restaurant, she picked up her six-year-old son at the babysitter's. After she got the sleeping boy in the car, she went back to get something. That's when someone jumped in her car and started to drive off, according to police. Investigators said Alexa ran after it, ended up being hit by the car and did not survive her injuries. Her son was not hurt.
“We are shook and there’s no filling that void. It's going to be hard honestly trying to keep moving forward," Champlin said.
Mayes wore a speech pathologist shirt Friday in honor of Stakely. Stakely had the same shirt.
“I don't think there’s a single person out there who’s not outraged. And just sad and mad and confused all at the same time," Mayes said. "She just had such a passion, a fire and I always really admired her over that.”
Police are still looking for whoever was involved in taking Stakely's life. They released this QR code Thursday to help people submit anonymous tips.
Police urged people to come forward with information. So did Champlin and Mayes.
“Just to speak up, people out there know something. Anything. And you took away a mother and our friend and it's wrong. This could have been avoided," Champlin said.
