Third defendant sentenced to life without parole in Colorado prison in deadly rock-throwing case
The third and final defendant was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in a Jefferson County, Colorado courtroom on Tuesday for his role in a deadly rock-throwing case. A jury found Joseph Koenig guilty of first-degree murder in April after he threw a rock through the windshield of Alexa Bartell's moving vehicle, killing her.
GOLDEN, CO - MAY 3: Defendant Joseph Koenig listens to First Judicial District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek as Koenig is formally charged with first-degree murder, attempted murder, assault and attempted assault, in Jefferson County court on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
AAron Ontiveroz/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images
Koenig was also found guilty on 18 other counts for his role in throwing rocks at other vehicles in a series of incidents in Jefferson County that caused damage to vehicles and injuries to drivers.
During the sentencing hearing, Bartell's mother gave an emotional statement.
These moments, these milestones, were stolen from her and from me and from all of our family by these three individuals who made a conscious decision to hurl a rock through her windshield. They watched her car run off the road into the field, turned back and watched them, then got rid of the evidence, drove back to get a better look twice, took photos, whooped, and drove away. They never called for help. They made no effort to save her. Instead, they formed a pack to be blood brothers, as if taking my daughter's life was something to be proud of," said Kelly Bartell. "Alexa was my only child, my daughter, my best friend and the greatest joy of my life."
Two co-defendants, Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, pleaded guilty last year for their roles in the 2023 attack. Both men testified against Koenig as part of their plea agreements. Both claimed that it was Koenig who threw the rock that killed Bartell.
Zachary Kwak
Jefferson County
Last month, Kwak was sentenced to 27 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections for the first-degree assault charge relating to Bartell's death, five years in the DOC to be served consecutively for a second-degree assault charge in the series of rock-throwing attacks and another sentence of eight years in the DOC to be served concurrently for another count of second-degree assault for a total of 32 years in prison with 738 days credit for time served.
Nicholas "Mitch" Karol-Chik
Jefferson County
The day before Kwak's sentencing, Nicholas "Mitch" James Karol-Chik was sentenced to 45 years in the Colorado Department of Corrections after reaching a plea agreement with prosecutors. Last May, he pleaded guilty to his role in a series of rock-throwing attacks between Feb. 25, 2023, and April 19, 2023.
Alexa Bartell
Alexa Bartell's family
Twenty-year-old Bartell was struck and killed late at night on April 19, 2023, when she was struck by a rock that was thrown into her windshield. Several others were injured in similar incidents with what authorities described as "large landscaping rocks," concrete, and in one case, a statue.
Her mom said losing her daughter has impacted every facet of her life, "It didn't just change my life. It changed who I am. Losing my daughter didn't just break my heart. It broke me. It shattered my soul. Everything I see and live is different now, my desires, my dreams, my relationships, all are touched by this grief. There isn't any part of my life that has not been touched by grief. My family will never be the same."
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