Mum of woman killed driving to see girlfriend shares devastating moment she found car

Kelly Bartell hugged her daughter goodbye before she went to see her girlfriend, then never got to hug her again.

Alexa Bartell, 20, had been on her way to see her girlfriend Jenna when three boys drove past her at 80-90mph and threw a 4kg rock through her windscreen. The rock hit her, and she crashed into a nearby field, dying at the scene. Mother Kelly never got to see her daughter again, as the funeral home said Alexa’s injuries were so severe.

Speaking to The Sun, Kelly has shared the devastating moment on April 19, 2023 that she discovered what had happened to her daughter, who came out as gay to her when she was 17.

She recalls being woken up at 10,30pm by Alexa’s girlfriend. “Jenna told me she had been on the phone to Alexa while she was driving before she had been cut off,” she said. “She had tried calling back but hadn’t been able to get in touch.”

Kelly saw that Alexa was in a field after looking at a location app, and her sister Robyn suggested Alexa may have broken down.

Tragically, she got another call from Jenna. “When I heard her scream a cold shiver ran down my body,” Kelly said.

Kelly arrived arrived at the scene to find emergency services including police, fire crews and ambulances.

At that time, they didn’t know exactly what had happened, but Alexa was pronounced dead at the scene. She said: “My worst nightmare had become a reality. My girl was gone.”

Investigation into Alexa’s death

Three 18-year-old men – Joseph Koenig, Zachary Kwak, and Nicholas Karol-Chik – were arrested a week later. A number of reports had been made about rocks being thrown from a passing car, and while there had been others injured, Alexa sadly died as a result.

The trial took place two years later, with Kwak and Karol-Chik, both 20 at the time, testifying that Koenig, then 21, was the one to throw the rock.

As a result, their charges were reduced.

Karol-Chik pleaded guilty to second-degree murder, criminal attempt to commit murder and a crime of violence, and was sentenced to 45 years in prison.

Kwak pleaded guilty to two assault charges and criminal attempt to commit assault, being sentenced to 32 years behind bars.

Koenig, after a jury found him guilty of murder and 18 other charges, was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole.

Kelly said: “I often think back to the night Alexa died and I’m so glad something told me to give her that extra hug.”

‘The sun in everybody’s life’

In May 2025, during Karol-Chik’s sentencing, Alexa’s girlfriend Jenna shared a statement.

She said: “She was more than great, and she taught everybody to be great. She was kind, she was the sun in everybody’s life.

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