A heartbreaking story unfolded in Ohio when a seven-year-old girl named Oaklynn begged her father not to harm her during a tense standoff with police. “I don’t want to go to heaven today,” the little girl pleaded, as her father, Charles Ryan Alexander, 43, threatened to take both their lives. Thankfully, the ordeal ended with Oaklynn being safely returned to her family.
The trouble began on November 11 when Alexander, who did not have legal custody, took Oaklynn from her grandmother’s home in Jefferson County. This led to an Amber Alert being issued across the state. Later, police in Brunswick, a city in Medina County, spotted Alexander’s car and tried to stop him. But instead of pulling over, he sped away, triggering a multi-jurisdictional chase.
Authorities used stop sticks to flatten Alexander’s tires, eventually forcing him to stop in a parking lot. What followed was a nerve-wracking standoff, during which Alexander, armed and desperate, threatened to kill his daughter and himself.
In a chilling recording, Alexander could be heard yelling, “I will shoot us both, stand back!” as little Oaklynn’s voice rang out in the background, begging, “Please don’t.”
The situation grew even more heartbreaking as Alexander began speaking to Oaklynn about heaven. “Are we both going to heaven?” she asked, to which her father replied, “We’ll both go.” But as she realized what that meant, the terrified girl shouted, “No! I don’t want to go to heaven today!”
Alexander also directed anger at Oaklynn’s mother, saying, “I wanna talk to her mother. If you’re listening, Ashley, you should’ve called.”
Throughout the standoff, 911 dispatchers worked tirelessly to calm Alexander down, urging him not to hurt Oaklynn. “Let’s not do anything we can’t undo,” one dispatcher pleaded. Another encouraged him to keep talking to his daughter so she wouldn’t be as scared.
Sadly, despite their efforts, police had to act to protect Oaklynn. They fired several shots at Alexander, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
After the traumatic event, Oaklynn was safely reunited with her family. While her bravery touched many hearts, the story is a stark reminder of the importance of protecting children from dangerous situations.
