Police release photos of suspects in carjacking attempt that killed Ohio mom Alexa Stakely

Columbus police have released new details in the case of a Pickerington mother killed trying to stop the theft of her vehicle with her son inside.

Alexa Stakely, 29, died early Thursday morning after she was struck by her own SUV. Stakely was picking up her 6-year-old son from her babysitter's residence on the 6300 block of Blue Knoll Drive at the White Oak Park Condominiums at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday following a waitressing shift.

Stakely was retrieving her son's belongings in the babysitter's doorway after placing her sleeping son in her SUV when she saw the vehicle pulling out of the driveway.

Police say Stakely suffered a fatal head injury when she fell to the ground after her vehicle struck her, and witnesses told police they saw two male suspects fleeing on foot. Her son was unhurt; body cam footage showed he told an officer he slept through the vehicle's theft.

On Tuesday, police released videos and still shots of suspects in Stakely's death. The suspects were seen wandering through nearby apartment complexes and condominiums, police said.

The suspects were seen at White Oak Park Condominiums, The Green, The Residences at James Place, Brynwood Reserve and The Residences at Akita Lane, police said.

Police are seeking video of or information about the suspects in the footage, and have provided a QR code and a link where people can submit evidence.

Columbus police said last Thursday they had obtained security video of a group of males looking into apartments in the Castenea Way area, a block away from Blue Knoll where the incident with Stakely occurred.

Two of the males in that group matched the description of people witnesses saw running past Stakely after she was hit, police said, but department spokesman Sgt. James Fuqua called the footage "just bread crumbs" and said police didn't want to release additional details until they had stronger evidence.

Police also said Thursday they had gone over Stakely's car for fingerprints and DNA evidence.

Anyone with video or photo evidence that could assist with the investigation can submit it to Columbus police online, and anyone with information about Stakely's killing can reach the lead detective, Detective Lemmon, at 614-645-2558 or RALemmon@ColumbusPolice.org or Central Ohio Crime Stoppers at 614-461-8477. All calls to Crime Stoppers are anonymous.