Joseph Koenig was living in Colorado and along with Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak were throwing rocks off a highway overpass that would lead to the death of Alexa Bartell
According to court documents Joseph Koenig, Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak were throwing rocks off a highway overpass in Jefferson County Colorado. One of the rocks would go through the windshield of a vehicle driven by Alexa Bartell that would cause her to crash and die.
The three teens were arrested and charged with a series of crimes including murder and attempted murder
Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak would take plea deals in exchange for testifying against Joseph Koenig. Nicholas Karol-Chik (photo middle) would be sentenced to forty five years in prison. Zachary Kwak (photo left) would receive a thirty two year prison sentence
Joseph Koenig decided to go to trial and would be convicted of murder, six counts of attempted murder and assortment of other charges. He would be sentenced to life in prison without parole
Joseph Koenig Current Information
| Name: KOENIG, JOSEPH E Age:21 Ethnicity: WHITE Gender: MALE Hair Color: BLONDE Eye Color: GREEN Height:5′ 09″ Weight:173 | DOC Number:204063 Est. Parole Eligibility Date:Next Parole Hearing Date: Est. Mandatory Release Date: Est. Sentence Discharge Date:LIFE NO PAROLE Current Facility Assignment: STERLING CORRECTIONAL FACILITY |
Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik Current Information
| Name: KAROL-CHIK, NICHOLAS J Age:21 Ethnicity: WHITE Gender: MALE Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color: GREEN Height:5′ 08″ Weight:199 | DOC Number:203793 Est. Parole Eligibility Date:10/04/2056 Next Parole Hearing Date:Jul 2056 This offender is scheduled on the Parole Board agenda for the month and year above. Please contact the facility case manager for the exact date. Est. Mandatory Release Date:01/04/2068 Est. Sentence Discharge Date: Current Facility Assignment: LIMON CORRECTIONAL FACILITY |
Zachary Kwak Current Information
| Name:KWAK, ZACHARY H Age:20 Ethnicity:ASIAN Gender:MALE Hair Color: BROWN Eye Color:BROWN Height:5′ 07″ Weight:168 | DOC Number:203802 Est. Parole Eligibility Date:10/16/2045 Next Parole Hearing Date:Jul 2045 This offender is scheduled on the Parole Board agenda for the month and year above. Please contact the facility case manager for the exact date. Est. Mandatory Release Date:01/16/2055 Est. Sentence Discharge Date: Current Facility Assignment:ARKANSAS VALLEY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY |
Joseph Koenig Case
Joseph Koenig (DOB: 09/11/2004) was sentenced to life in prison plus sixty years this morning for the murder of Alexa Bartell and the series of rock throwing attacks between Feb. 25, 2023, and Apr. 19, 2023. On April 25, 2025, Joseph Koenig was convicted by a Jefferson County jury on all 19 counts, including Extreme Indifference Murder in the First Degree, which carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole.
At sentencing, Chief Deputy District Attorney Katharine Decker noted the mandatory sentence that is required by law, and additionally requested consecutive sentencing on each felony count to reflect the seriousness of the offenses related to each victim.
Decker concluded her argument by stating, “For the last two years, the focus in this courtroom has been on the Defendant and upholding his rights; his rights have been upheld, he received a fair trial and is facing a constitutional sentence. Now it is time to shift the focus to Alexa Bartell.”
One by one, family and friends of Bartell once again addressed the court, recounting the impact of Alexa’s death.
Kelly Bartell opened her statement by expressing gratitude to the first responders, investigators, and everyone involved in the pursuit of justice for her daughter. She also thanked the jury “for the strength and courage they showed in reaching this difficult decision.”
Bartell described the depth of her loss, calling it a pain that has “shattered my soul.” She added, “There is no part of my life that will ever be the same.” Despite the devastation, Bartell spoke of her family’s resolve to honor Alexa’s memory: “We will honor her by living with the love, light, and laughter that she gave so freely, and we will carry her with us always.”
For the first time, Joseph Koenig addressed the court and Alexa’s family, expressing remorse for his actions. “I am so, so sorry,” he said. Koenig maintains that there was never an intention to harm anyone that night, but ended by stating, “I deserve the punishment that I get today. I hope that it takes away some small bit of the pain I’ve caused.”
District Court Judge Christopher Zenisek emphasized, “There is something more vicious, deliberate, intentional in the throwing of the rock that killed Alexa Bartell.” He stated he weighed the appropriate sentence for Koenig based on his level of responsibility compared to the other two defendants.
Last month, co-defendants Nicholas Karol-Chik and Zachary Kwak, both of whom pleaded guilty and testified at Koenig’s trial, were sentenced for their roles in the rock throwing attacks. Kwak received a 32-year prison sentence, while Karol-Chik was sentenced to 45 years.
Zenisek reiterated that the world needed more people like Alexa Bartell and that maybe, “we’re all a little better for having known her.”
Koenig was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on count one, plus sixty years on the remaining counts.
Count 1: life without parole
Count 2: 10 years DOC (consecutive to count 1 and counts 2-6)
Count 3: 10 years DOC (consecutive to count 1 and counts 2-6)
Count 4: 10 years DOC (consecutive to count 1 and counts 2-6)
Count 5: 10 years DOC (consecutive to count 1 and counts 2-6)
Count 6: 10 years DOC (consecutive to count 1 and counts 2-6)
Count 7: 120 days in jail, time served, concurrent to all other counts.
Counts 8-10: 364 days in jail, time served, concurrent to all other counts.
Counts 11-13, 15, 18, 19: 120 days in jail, time served, concurrent to all other counts.
Count 14: 10 years doc (consecutive to counts 2-6)
Counts 16-17: 3 years doc (concurrent to all other counts)
Joseph Koenig Sentenced – Colorado First Judicial District Attorney’s Office
