Karoline Heintz, an 18-year-old incoming freshman and soccer player at Pennsylvania Western University — California, was allegedly fatally stabbed by her boyfriend, Royce Moser. Authorities also allege Moser’s mother later helped him after the attack.
Moser, also 18, allegedly told investigators that a “demon” took control of him and directed him to stab Heintz, according to details included in court documents.
Pennsylvania State Police said Heintz had gone to meet Moser outside his father’s home in North Strabane so the two could talk.
According to the criminal complaint, Heintz was sitting in her vehicle in the driveway when the conversation turned tense. Moser allegedly told investigators he became angry over something she said, though he claimed he could not remember what it was. He then said a “demon” took over and told him to stab Karoline, court records state.
Karoline Heintz was allegedly killed by her boyfriend, Royce Moser. (Instagram/ kheintz_57)
Investigators say Moser allegedly told Heintz to “wait” because he had something for her, then went inside the residence to retrieve a knife. He returned to the driveway and stabbed her in the chest, according to the complaint. After she fell from the vehicle, authorities allege he tried to drag her toward the back of the car, placed her in the rear hatch and then got into the driver’s seat.
Police said Moser then contacted his mother, Rachel, who is accused of assisting her son in the aftermath of the stabbing.
Royce Moser is accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend, Karoline Heintz. (Instagram/ kheintz_57)
Rachel Moser allegedly told him to come to her house. When he arrived, she allegedly told her son to pull the car into the garage and that she would help him clear the vehicle with disinfectant spray, according to court documents.
“She then gave him latex gloves and told him to follow her vehicle toward the university. They left the victim’s vehicle in the parking lot and he got in her car to leave,” the criminal complaints state. “She took the knife that was used to stab the victim and put it in a garbage bag to be put in the trash outside of her residence. She put his clothes into the washing machine.”
The California Police Department was notified just after midnight Thursday to check the area near the California Library after Heintz failed to return to campus.
Karoline Heintz was on the Pennsylvania Western University soccer team. (Instagram/ kheintz_57)
Officers found her body in the rear hatch of a Jeep Cherokee near the library, and authorities said noticeable blood spatter was visible inside and outside the vehicle.
Royce Moser is 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, Pennsylvania State Police said Thursday.
Karoline Heintz and Royce Moser seen in a photo on her Instagram. (Instagram/ kheintz_57)
His mother faces charges of 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, state police said.
The school provided News Outlet with the following statement on Friday: “PennWest University is heartbroken by the tragic death of Karoline Heintz, a first-year student-athlete at the California campus. Our deepest condolences are with Karoline’s family, friends, teammates, and all those whose lives she touched. We are focused on supporting members of our university community as they grieve this devastating loss.”
