NORTH STRABANE, PA - A Pennsylvania man is under arrest in connection with the stabbing death of his girlfriend, the Pennsylvania State Police announced in a press release. Royce Moser, 18, has been charged with Homicide, Tampering with Evidence, Abuse of a Corpse, Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence, Conspiracy to Commit Abuse of a Corpse, and Obstruction of Justice.
Moser’s mother, Rachel, has been charged with Hindering Apprehension of a Fugitive, Tampering with Evidence, Abuse of a Corpse, Conspiracy to Commit Tampering with Evidence, Conspiracy to Commit Abuse of a Corpse, and Obstruction of Justice. Police allege she conspired with her son to cover up the crime.
Police allege that just after midnight on August 20, the California Police Department was asked to check the area for a Jeep Cherokee after the victim, Karoline Heintz, did not return to PennWest California. The vehicle was found near the California Library, and officers observed noticeable blood spatter inside and outside the vehicle. Upon looking inside the vehicle, Karoline's body was found in the rear hatch area.
During their investigation, police learned that the victim, age 18, met with Moser, her boyfriend, outside his father’s residence in North Strabane to talk. At some point, Moser became incensed and went into the residence, where he retrieved a large kitchen knife. Police allege that Moser stabbed Heintz in the chest. After she fell to the ground, Moser placed her in the rear hatch area of the Jeep and drove to his mother’s residence in Beallsville.
Once there, Rachel Moser attempted to clean the vehicle with cleaning spray. She gave her son latex gloves and told him to follow her to the university. They left the Jeep near the university’s library, and Rachel Moser drove her son back to their home, where he cleaned his clothes and showered.
CBS News reported that Heintz was a soccer player at PennWest California. Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said on Thursday that Heintz and Royce Moser were in a relationship and that he did not attend the university.
Pennsylvania State Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said that Heintz was only getting ready to explore life.
“Eighteen-year-old girl, young, soccer star, ready to explore life, ready to start college now can no longer do that,” Gagliardi said. “Her family, great family, unfortunately we had to deliver all this news to them.”
Karoline Heintz
Royce Moser told investigators that Heintz said something that made him angry but couldn’t remember what she said, a criminal complaint said. He then claimed he had a “demon take over” that told him to stab his girlfriend. His mother also told police her son had “demons” telling him to hurt his girlfriend.
The criminal complaint said that Royce told Heintz, “Wait, I have something to you” before he walked into his father’s home, grabbed a knife, and came out and stabbed his girlfriend to death.
Heintz had been with her family earlier that afternoon and was supposed to go back to the university and her dorm room. She never made it. After repeated attempts to contact her, Heintz’s family was able to track her vehicle via an Apple AirTag to outside the library and contacted police.
“Officers start to see some indicators from the vehicle which indicate blood,” Gagliardi said. “They check the vehicle to gain entry, and they observe Karoline in the back hatch of that Cherokee.”
He continued, noting that investigators knew “right away that this was a very serious case.” The specific cause of death has not yet been released by the coroner’s office.
The Mosers are scheduled for a preliminary hearing later this month.
Karoline’s family released a statement and called her murder “devastating,” CBS News reported.
“It has been devastating for family, friends, and the whole community,” the statement said. “Karoline was loved by all. She was a kind, smart, beautiful girl. We want justice for our ‘sweet’ Karoline.”
Other people who knew Karoline posted tributes to her on Friday.
“If the world had several Karolines, it would be a much more, caring and loyal place,” said Tyler Hamstra, coach of a soccer club that Heintz played for. “She was who we should all drive to be. A little happier, a little more positive, and a lot more kind.”
A candlelight vigil is scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 23 at 6 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Peters Township, Pennsylvania.
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