A tragic incident that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old driver in suburban Denver last year took a new turn as a second teen pleaded guilty on Wednesday. Nicholas Karol-Chik, 19, admitted to his involvement in the crime, which led to the passing of a rock to another teen, Joseph Koenig, who threw it at Alexis Bartell's car, causing her death on April 19, 2023.
As part of a plea deal with prosecutors, Karol-Chik pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and committing a crime of violence. He also confessed to attempted first-degree murder for throwing rocks at a total of nine people that night, along with Koenig and another teen, Zachary Kwak, who had pleaded guilty earlier.
Prosecutors have faced challenges in determining which of the three teens threw the fatal rock, as only Bartell's DNA was found on it. Karol-Chik's testimony may play a crucial role when Koenig, the sole defendant still facing first-degree murder charges, goes to trial in July.
Koenig, who has pleaded not guilty, is being represented by his lawyer, Martin Stuart, who declined to comment on the case. Both Karol-Chik and Kwak have agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as part of their plea agreements.
According to Karol-Chik's admission, all three teens were involved in throwing rocks at oncoming cars that night, hitting a total of seven vehicles. Karol-Chik specified that he handed Koenig a large landscaping rock, which Koenig then threw at Bartell's car while driving.
Under his plea agreement, Karol-Chik faces a potential prison sentence ranging from 35 to 72 years when he is sentenced on September 10. During his plea hearing, Karol-Chik's parents were present in the courtroom, with his mother visibly emotional as he answered the judge's questions.
The courtroom was filled with Bartell's family and friends, many of whom were moved to tears during the proceedings. The tragic consequences of the rock-throwing incident continue to reverberate, underscoring the importance of accountability and justice in such cases.
