In a tragic case in suburban Denver, a second teen has pleaded guilty in the death of 20-year-old Alexis Bartell, who was killed when a rock crashed through her windshield. Nicholas Karol-Chik, 19, admitted to passing a rock to another teen, Joseph Koenig, who then threw it at Bartell’s car on April 19, 2023. Karol-Chik also confessed to throwing rocks at a total of nine people that night, along with Koenig and another teen, Zachary Kwak, who had previously pleaded guilty. Prosecutors have stated that they are unsure which of the three teens actually threw the fatal rock, as only Bartell’s DNA was found on it.
While Karol-Chik and Kwak have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, Koenig, the only remaining defendant being prosecuted for first-degree murder in Bartell’s death, has pleaded not guilty. His lawyer declined to comment on the case. Karol-Chik faces a potential sentence of 35 to 72 years in prison when he is sentenced in September. The three teens admitted to throwing rocks at seven vehicles that night, with Karol-Chik specifically mentioning that he handed Koenig a large landscaping rock that was thrown at Bartell’s car.
During Karol-Chik’s plea hearing, he appeared in court dressed in an orange jail jumpsuit with his wrists handcuffed in front of him, as his parents watched from behind. He answered the judge’s questions about his plea agreement in a polite manner, while his mother cried in the courtroom. Bartell’s family and friends were also present, filling the other side of the courtroom and expressing their emotions during the hearing. Despite the guilty pleas from Karol-Chik and Kwak, prosecutors may still need Karol-Chik’s testimony in Koenig’s trial in July, as they continue to seek justice for Bartell’s tragic death.
