In a Colorado courtroom gripped by emotion, Nicholas Karol-Chik was sentenced to 45 years in prison for his role in the 2023 rock-throwing spree that took the life of 20-year-old Alexa Bartell.
At a Glance
- Nicholas Karol-Chik sentenced to 45 years for second-degree murder and attempted murder
- Incident involved throwing rocks at vehicles; Alexa Bartell was killed by a rock crashing through her windshield
- Karol-Chik expressed remorse, blaming peer pressure
- Victim’s family delivered powerful impact statements detailing enduring grief
- Co-defendant Joseph Koenig convicted of first-degree murder
Reckless Night Ends in Tragedy
On April 19, 2023, a group of teens—including Nicholas Karol-Chik—drove through Jefferson County, Colorado, throwing landscaping rocks at passing vehicles. What they saw as reckless fun turned deadly when one of those rocks smashed through the windshield of Alexa Bartell’s car, killing her instantly.
Karol-Chik, now 20, previously pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and multiple counts of attempted murder. His cooperation with prosecutors, including testifying against co-defendant Joseph Koenig, contributed to a reduced sentence.
Watch Denver7’s coverage at “1 of 3 sentenced to 45 years in rock-throwing death of Alexa Bartell”.
A Courtroom Gripped by Grief
In a tear-filled sentencing hearing, Karol-Chik expressed deep regret, saying, “I will forever have to live with the fact that my desire to impress people that I thought were friends caused this tragedy.” But the weight of his apology did little to ease the pain of Alexa’s family.
Her mother, Kelly Bartell, described in heart-wrenching detail the moment she arrived at the crash scene: “I ran to help her and was stopped by first responders telling me I couldn’t see her. I knew then she was gone.”
Prosecutors argued that despite Karol-Chik’s remorse, his actions demanded serious consequences. Deputy District Attorney Brynn Chase stated, “There’s just no way to atone for what the three of them did but for a substantial sentence.”
Sentencing and Fallout
Karol-Chik’s 45-year sentence reflects the court’s effort to balance accountability with his cooperation in Koenig’s prosecution. Koenig was found guilty of first-degree murder and faces a significantly harsher penalty.
While Karol-Chik’s mother pleaded for leniency, describing her son as a “gentle soul,” the courtroom remained haunted by the senselessness of the act. Bartell’s cousin spoke to the broader impact: “Nothing is the same anymore. My family isn’t the same anymore.”
The case has become a stark example of how a night of reckless thrill-seeking can end in irreversible tragedy—changing countless lives forever. As one family begins to grieve beyond the courtroom, another must reckon with a son condemned to spend decades behind bars.
