COLUMBUS, Ohio — Prosecutors want to try the two 16-year-old boys charged with murder in Alexa Stakely's death as adults.
The teens are two of three people charged with murder in the single mother's death. The third person is 19-year-old Gerald Dowling who was given a $10 million bond in Franklin County Municipal Court on Thursday.
Stakely, a 29-year-old teacher in Canal Winchester, was killed trying to stop her vehicle from being stolen as her 6-year-old son was asleep in the backseat. The incident happened on July 11 at an apartment complex on the southeast side of Columbus.
On Wednesday, police said one of the 16-year-olds was accompanied by his parents at Columbus Police Headquarters where he admitted to stealing the vehicle and striking Stakely with it, causing her death.
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The teen said that he and two others were looking for a vehicle to steal when they saw Stakely's Honda, police said. As the two friends watched, the teen said he got into Stakely's SUV and was about to drive off when she appeared in front of the vehicle.
The 16-year-old said he panicked and began driving off, hitting Stakely. He then abandoned the SUV and rejoined the other two on foot.
Later Wednesday evening, police identified and interviewed a second 16-year-old who they said admitted to being present during the incident.
The two 16-year-olds appeared in juvenile court on Thursday.
“These are the cases that we focus the most attention on. Not only for the seriousness of the event and the impact on the victims, but what dangers may be presented to the community,” said Franklin County Prosecuting Attorney Pete Chimbidis.
The two teens must have a probable cause hearing before they are bound to adult court. They will be held in the Franklin County Juvenile Detention Facility until their next hearing on Monday. If probable cause is found, the teens will be directly bound over to court.
The two teens are facing 25 years or more in prison if they are bound over and found guilty.
Juvenile court judge speaks out
As a mother of two, Franklin County Judge Lasheyl Stroud said she has followed the case.
“It's absolutely heartbreaking because as a mother you do everything you can to protect your child so I absolutely understand that, so to be violated that way my heart goes out to the entire family. To that 6-year-old who was in the back of the car, I have spent a lot of time just praying for him because I can't imagine what this is like to be asleep then to not see your mom again,” she said during an interview with 10TV's Kevin Landers.
Judge Stroud is not assigned to the case. The case is in the hands of Juvenile Court Judge Kim Browne.