JEFFERSON COUNTY, Colorado — The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office said two more people have come forward to report rocks being thrown at their vehicles. This comes after a thrown rock hit and killed 20-year-old Alexa Bartell while she was driving home from work late Wednesday night.
The sheriff's office said neither driver was injured and that the rocks caused damage to the vehicles' windshields.
That brings the total number of instances of rocks being thrown at vehicles to seven, JCSO said. No arrests have been made. A sheriff's office spokesperson said they have received nearly 300 tips since Thursday.
"It’s been heartbreaking and intense. Everybody at our agency is doing everything we can to bring the suspects in this case to justice," sheriff's office spokesperson Jenny Fulton said. "We are working around the clock to identify them, to track down tips, to follow up on leads and to figure out who did this."
A memorial at the site where Bartell's car was found has grown over the last few days.
The sheriff's office said the new rock-throwing instances happened the same night that Bartell was killed. The drivers were driving south on Colorado 93 between 10:15 and 10:30 p.m. when their cars were struck.
"We know that these rocks are 4 to 6 inches, 3 to 5 pounds, so they're large, like landscaping rocks that were essentially used as a deadly weapon in this investigation," sheriff's office spokesperson Jacki Kelley said.
The sheriff's office asked residents along Simms, 100th Avenue, Candelas Parkway, Highway 72, Highway 93, Highway 128/120th Avenue, McCaslin and Indiana to check any home surveillance footage they may have on April 19 between 9:45 – 11 p.m. to see if a light-colored pickup truck or SUV was captured.
JCSO released an updated timeline of rock-throwing reports from Wednesday night:
- 10:04 p.m. – Westminster – 100th Avenue and Simms Street – Driver not injured. Rock through windshield.
The following four incidents occurred between 10:26 – 10:45 p.m.:
- 10:26 p.m. – Arvada – Highway 93 at Highway 72 – Minor injuries to driver. Rock through windshield.
- Jefferson County – Highway 93 near Highway 128 – No injuries. Rock thrown through minivan's driver's side windows.
- Jefferson County – Highway 93 near Highway 128 – No injuries. Clump of smaller rocks cracked windshield of Subaru Forester.
- Boulder County – McCaslin Boulevard & South Indiana Street (entrance to Rock Creek neighborhood) – Minor injuries to driver. Rock through windshield.
- Boulder County – McCaslin Boulevard and South Indiana Street (entrance to Rock Creek neighborhood) – No injuries. Rock vs. Toyota 4-Runner – body damage to vehicle.
- 10:45 p.m. – Jefferson County – 10600 block of Indiana St. – Homicide. Rock through windshield of yellow Chevy Spark.
The sheriff's office asked on Friday for Tesla owners to check their systems for any footage that could potentially provide clues about the crime spree. They're asking Tesla owners specifically because those vehicles constantly record activity while driving.
As of Monday afternoon, the sheriff's office said they had not received any videos but were still going through the nearly 300 tips they had received.
In Bartell's homicide case, there's a reward of up to $17,000 for tips that lead to an arrest. The reward is coming from two sources: Bartell's mother's employer has put forward $15,000 and Metro Denver Crime Stoppers is offering up to $2,000.
Lucy Geisleman, a close friend of Bartell's, described her as a kind, loving and forgiving person.
"To say she was an amazing friend to me would be a gross understatement. Every time I listen to country or see someone wearing shorts I wish were longer, I will always think of her," Geisleman said. "She had dreams and ambitions that were stolen from her and her loved ones. She always talked about the future, what kind of house she wanted and what her wedding would look like. In an instant it was all taken away for absolutely no reason. She will be forever remembered and live on in our hearts and minds, since that’s all we have left of her."
Anyone who witnessed anything related to the suspect's vehicle or the suspects who may have been inside should call Metro Denver Crime Stoppers at 720-913-7867.
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