Royce Moser, Pennsylvania man blames demons for stabbing to death Karoline Heintz, PennWest California student death, with suspect’s mother, Rachel also arrested in assisting trying to hide murder.
A Pennsylvania man has blamed ‘demons’ in the stabbing death of his college soccer star girlfriend, with the boyfriend’s mother also facing charges for allegedly helping her son trying to cover up the murder.
Karoline Heintz an incoming freshman at PennWest University was found dead in the back hatch of her Jeep Cherokee at around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, just outside the school’s campus in California, Pa.
Heintz, 18, a recent Peters Township High School graduate had met up with her boyfriend, Royce Moser, also 18, after she attended a family party earlier in the evening.
Karoline Heintz stabbed to death by Royce Moser trying to break up
Heintz’s body was found in the back of her SUV near the California Borough Public Library the Observer Reporter stated citing prosecutors.
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said that the two were in a relationship and Moser did not attend PennWest California.
‘The couple got together at Mosher’s father’s home in North Strabane Township, where they began talking about their relationship inside her car only for discussions to ‘become difficult,’ Pennsylvania State Trooper Rocco Gagliardi told reporters.
‘They’re a younger couple talking about how relationships can continue maybe in a college setting. Somewhere that conversation probably goes a little bit south,’ Gagliardi added. ‘Towards the end of that conversation between boyfriend and girlfriend, he goes inside and grabs a large knife from the kitchen.’
The teen allegedly told Heintz he had something for her, which allowed him to run inside and grab the weapon.
Moser returned to the vehicle, where he was accused of stabbing Heintz in the chest before the teen falling out of the car.
Teen girl’s body found in her abondoned jeep
Moser allegedly stuffed his girlfriend in the back hatch of the Jeep before racing to his mother’s home in Beallsville, Pa., looking for help.
‘They tried to clean clothes, tried to clean the car up, tried to get rid of any blood stains possible and then proceeded to take that vehicle with the mother tailing all the way down to California Borough,’ Gagliardi said.
Heintz’s family called police for a wellness check after the teen failed to check in with them when she was supposed to have returned to her dorm room.
The teen’s location pinged outside the California Borough Library, where officers found her body in the back of the abandoned, blood-stained car, Gagliardi said.
Mosher and his mother, Rachel Moser, 57, were arrested Thursday morning.
Boyfriend blames demons for ‘taking over’
The teen allegedly confided in his mother that he had a ‘demon take over’ and was told to stab Heintz, CBS News Pittsburgh reported.
Officials did not reveal a motive behind the stabbing and didn’t say if mental history played a factor in Mosher’s alleged attack.
‘It is more of an unfortunate event, 18-year-old girl, young soccer star ready to explore life, ready to start college, now can no longer get to do that,’ Gagliardi said.
Mosher was charged with criminal homicide, two counts of tampering with evidence, two counts of abuse of a corpse and obstruction, WTAE reported.
Rachel Moser was charged with tampering, obstruction, hindering the apprehension of a of a fugitive and abuse of a corpse.
Suspect’s mom who tried covering up murder apologizes to victim’s family
‘I’m sorry that my son took a life,’ Rachel Moser apologizing to Heintz’s family said as she was led away.
The criminal complaint said Rachel Moser told her son to ‘take a bath and then shower’ and change his clothes. She also allegedly put the knife in a garbage bag and washed her son’s clothes.
Police said the woman tried to clean the Jeep with disinfectant spray and gave her son latex gloves to wear as they drove around.
Heintz had graduated from Peters Township High School in June.
She was set to start her collegiate career at PennWest University, where she had committed to play Division II soccer, with the team’s first game set for Aug. 29.
‘PennWest University is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Karoline Heintz, who was a first-year student at the California campus. Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and all those affected by this tragedy,’ the school said in a statement.
State police continue to investigate the killing.
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