A Pennsylvania mother accused of helping her teenage son conceal the body of his slain girlfriend made a startling comment to reporters during a perp walk, saying she was “sorry” that her son “took a life.”
Rachel Moser was escorted by state police to a patrol vehicle on Thursday after authorities charged her with assisting her son, 18-year-old Royce Moser, in cleaning up after he allegedly stabbed his girlfriend, 18-year-old soccer standout Karoline Heintz, to death the previous night.
Shackled at the wrists and ankles, Moser kept her face buried in her hands as reporters pressed her with questions. After initially refusing to respond, she said: “I’m sorry… my son took a life.”
The 56-year-old also pushed back against the allegations against her. When a reporter asked, “Why did you help your son cover up a murder?” Moser replied, “I did not,” while continuing to shield her face.
Royce Moser, meanwhile, allegedly claimed that “demons” told him to harm Heintz, an incoming freshman at Pennsylvania Western University who had earned recognition as a talented soccer player.
The deadly encounter took place Wednesday night near the university’s campus. Investigators said Heintz met Moser in North Strabane Township, southwest of Pittsburgh, after spending the day with her family.
According to police, the pair sat in her car for a conversation that deteriorated before Moser allegedly grabbed a knife.
“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,” Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said.
Rachel Moser, the Pennsylvania mom accused of helping her teenage son dispose of his murdered girlfriend’s body, has said she was ‘sorry’ that he ‘took a life’ in an astonishing perp walk admission. She is shown above being marched to a patrol car on Thursday evening
Royce Moser, 18, is accused of fatally stabbing his girlfriend, Karoline Heintz, also 18
‘Towards the end of that conversation between boyfriend and girlfriend, he goes inside and grabs a large knife from the kitchen, and proceeds to stab her in the chest area.’
After stabbing Heintz, Moser is accused of putting her body in the back hatch of her Jeep Cherokee and driving to his mother’s house, around 25 minutes away in Beallsville, Pennsylvania.
WTAE reported that in an interview with police, Moser claimed his mom offered to help disinfect the car.
It is also alleged that she gave him latex gloves and told him to ‘take a bath and then shower.’ According to the complaint, Rachel Moser put the murder weapon in a garbage bag and her son’s clothes in the washing machine.
‘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 added.
Police found her body outside the California Borough Library.
Karoline Heintz was slated to play Division II soccer at PennWest University before her death
Royce Moser is accused of stabbing Heintz and then leaving her body in her Jeep Cherokee
Both Moser and his mother were arrested on Thursday morning and, according to CBS News Pittsburgh, the teenager claimed a ‘demon took over’ and told him to stab his girlfriend.
WTAE reported that Moser also claimed to have been enraged by something his girlfriend had said.
He has been charged with homicide, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, conspiracy to commit tampering of evidence, conspiracy to commit abuse of a corpse and obstruction of justice.
His mother, meanwhile, faces charges of hindering the apprehension of a fugitive, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, conspiracy to commit tampering of evidence, conspiracy to commit abuse of a corpse and obstruction.
‘They tried to clean clothes, tried to clean the car up, tried to get rid of any blood stains possible,’ police said
Heintz was slated to play Division II soccer at PennWest University.
In a statement, the school said it ‘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.’
