A Jefferson County man convicted of homicide in a rock-throwing spree that killed 20-year-old Alexa Bartell was sentenced to life in jail with out the potential of parole on Tuesday.
Joseph Koenig, 20, will spend the remainder of his life within the Colorado Division of Corrections after a jury discovered him responsible in April on 19 counts associated to throwing massive rocks at passing autos.
Life in jail is the necessary sentence for a first-degree homicide conviction in Colorado. Koenig was additionally sentenced to a further 60 years for tried homicide, assault, tried assault, tried reckless manslaughter and reckless endangerment, in line with the First Judicial District Legal professional’s Workplace.
Koenig and two different males threw rocks at passing automobiles the night time of April 19, 2023, in a random spree, together with the automotive Bartell was driving on Indiana Avenue close to the Rocky Flats Nationwide Wildlife Refuge. The 9.3-pound rock went by means of her windshield and struck her within the head.
Bartell’s mom, Kelly, addressed the court docket throughout Koenig’s sentencing, the DA’s workplace mentioned.
The lack of her daughter “shattered my soul,” Kelly Bartell mentioned.
“There isn’t a a part of my life that can ever be the identical,” she mentioned. “…We’ll honor (Alexa) by dwelling with the love, gentle and laughter that she gave so freely, and we are going to carry her with us at all times.”
Two different 18-year-olds have been additionally charged in reference to Alexa Bartell’s demise. Nicholas “Mitch” Karol-Chik pleaded responsible to second-degree homicide and tried homicide and was sentenced to 45 years in jail, and Zachary Kwak pleaded responsible to assault and tried assault and was sentenced to 32 years in jail.
Each males agreed to testify at Koenig’s trial as a part of their plea offers.
Koenig addressed the court docket and the Bartell household for the primary time on the Tuesday sentencing and apologized, in line with the DA’s workplace.
“I deserve the punishment that I get at this time. I hope that it takes away some small little bit of the ache I’ve induced,” he mentioned.
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