A 20-year-old woman left to visit her girlfriend and was driving when three men in a passing car threw a 4kg rock at 80–90 mph. The rock shattered her windscreen, causing her to crash into a nearby field where she died at the scene. Her mother, who had been told her daughter was gay, learned of the death after being contacted by the girlfriend during the night. The mother located the crash using a location app and arrived to find police, fire crews, and ambulances. Investigators arrested three 18-year-old men a week later after reports of similar rock-throwing incidents. A later trial reduced charges for some defendants, and one pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and related attempted murder charges.
"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.""
"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 a"
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