GOLDEN, Colo.—In a tragic incident in suburban Denver last year, a 20-year-old driver, Alexis Bartell, lost her life after being hit in the head by a rock that crashed through her windshield. On Wednesday, Nicholas Karol-Chik, 19, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and committing a crime of violence in connection with the incident. He admitted to passing a rock to another teen, Joseph Koenig, who threw it at Bartell’s car on April 19, 2023.
Karol-Chik also pleaded guilty to attempted first-degree murder for participating in throwing rocks at a total of nine people that night along with Koenig and Zachary Kwak. Kwak had already pleaded guilty earlier in the year. The prosecution had difficulty determining which of the three teens threw the fatal rock since only Bartell’s DNA was found on it. Karol-Chik’s testimony may be crucial when Koenig, the only remaining defendant facing first-degree murder charges in Bartell’s death, goes on trial in July.
Koenig has maintained his innocence and pleaded not guilty. His lawyer declined to comment on the case. Both Karol-Chik and Kwak agreed to cooperate with prosecutors as part of their plea agreements. Kwak pleaded guilty to first-degree assault in Bartell’s death and other related charges.
According to Karol-Chik’s statement, all three teens were involved in throwing rocks at passing cars that night, hitting a total of seven vehicles. Karol-Chik mentioned that he handed Koenig a large landscaping rock, which Koenig threw at Bartell’s car while driving.
As part of his plea deal, Karol-Chik faces a potential sentence of 35 to 72 years in prison when he is sentenced on Sept. 10. During his court appearance, Karol-Chik, dressed in an orange jumpsuit with his hands cuffed, answered the judge’s questions with his parents present in the courtroom. Bartell’s family and friends, seated on the other side of the courtroom, were emotional during the hearing.
By Colleen Slevin
