A man from Colorado has been found guilty of first-degree murder connected to the tragic death of 20-year-old Alexa Bartell. She was killed when a heavy rock smashed through her car window while she was driving.
On April 25, a jury also convicted 20-year-old Joseph Koenig of several other charges, including attempted first-degree murder and second-degree assault for related incidents of throwing rocks.
Jefferson County District Attorney Alexis King commented on the verdict, emphasizing that this tragedy could have been prevented. Alexa’s mother, Kelly Bartell, expressed her deep sadness, noting that justice feels incomplete and cannot replace the vibrant life lost.
Koenig’s co-defendants, Zachary Kwak and Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik, had previously pled guilty for their involvement in these attacks.
On the night of April 19, 2023, the trio was reportedly throwing rocks at vehicles when a nine-pound rock struck Alexa’s car as she drove along Indiana Street in Denver, talking with a friend. Emergency responders found her unresponsive with a severe head injury.
Investigators recovered the rock nearby, which had traces of her blood. This was one of a series of similar attacks that night.
Karol-Chik testified that Koenig seemed excited after the incident, looking at his friends with a smile. Afterward, the group allegedly returned to the scene to take photos of what they had done, and the next day, they met to plan their stories. During the trial, Koenig claimed that it was Kwak who threw the fatal rock.
Sentencing for Koenig is set for June 3. He could face life in prison for the murder charge, while Kwak could receive 20 to 32 years and Karol-Chik 35 to 72 years for their roles in the incidents.
