A Colorado woman died after someone threw a rock through her windshield Wednesday and investigators say her death may be part of a string of similar crimes that night. Authorities are searching for those responsible.
Alexa Bartell was driving around 10:45 p.m. local time Wednesday night in Arvada, Colorado, about 12 miles west of Denver. Someone threw a large rock at her vehicle, which hit her and killed her, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
The 20-year-old was talking to a friend on the phone when the line went silent, investigators said. Her friend tracked her phone and drove to her, where she found Bartell dead inside her car, which was off the road in a field, investigators said.
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Who threw the rock?
Investigators initially believed the killing was part of an “overnight crime series involving a light-colored pickup truck or SUV.”
Authorities said the suspects were involved in a series of three separate incidents of rocks being thrown at vehicles within an hour that night starting just after 10 p.m.
Investigators also said there was a similar incident hours later on Thursday in Arvada at 12:24 a.m. when a rock was thrown through a windshield. The driver suffered minor injuries.
The sheriff’s office posted a series of updates on Facebook regarding the light-colored truck investigators were looking for.
Just after 1:30 p.m. Thursday, investigators said they were looking for a light-colored 4-door 2003-2005 Dodge Ram and asked the public to call in tips. The sheriff’s office called the vehicle a “truck of interest.”
A few hours later, the sheriff’s office said they’d found the owner and wanted to hear from potential victims.
But by Thursday night, investigators said the truck and owner were not involved in Bartell’s death and no other suspects were identified as of that night.
The sheriff’s office said in a news release that there may be more victims.
The office is working with the Boulder County Sheriff’s Office, Arvada Police and Westminster Police to get more information.
Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY’s NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757 – and loves all things horror, witches, Christmas, and food. Follow her on Twitter at @Saleen_Martin or email her at sdmartin@usatoday.com.
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