GOLDEN, Colo. (Jun. 3, 2025) – Joseph Edwin 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, 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, 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)