Police on Thursday released body-worn camera video capturing the moment officers found the body of a Pennsylvania college student, a discovery that led investigators to charge her boyfriend after he allegedly claimed in court records that a “demon” instructed him to stab her.
State police also allege that the boyfriend’s mother helped him try to conceal the killing.
Royce Moser, 18, of North Strabane Township, has been charged with homicide in the death of Karoline Heintz, a PennWest California University student. Heintz’s body was discovered Aug. 20 after she did not return to the southwestern Pennsylvania campus, according to a criminal complaint.
In a police affidavit, Moser allegedly said he grew angry with Heintz while the two were talking inside her vehicle in his driveway. He told investigators a “demon” took control of him and told him to stab her, authorities said.
A preliminary hearing in the case was held Tuesday for both Moser and his mother, Rachel Moser, in connection with Heintz’s death.
Royce Moser’s attorney declined to comment on the allegations. A message seeking comment from the public defender representing Rachel Moser was not immediately returned.
The 37-minute video made public Thursday comes from a California, Pennsylvania, police officer’s body camera. Recorded in darkness, it shows the officer approaching Karoline Heintz’s Jeep.
The officer shines a flashlight through the rear window, calls out to another officer nearby and then radios in.
“Control, I need EMS here right now,” the officer said. “I’ve got an unconscious female in the back of this car right now. Any additional units, any in the available area, please.”
An operator radios back, “Is she breathing?”
“Negative,” the officer responds as sirens are heard in the background. “I’ve got blood everywhere.”
The officer then breaks two windows to gain access inside the vehicle.
“Get someone here now,” he said.
According to the affidavit, Moser said he told Heintz, “wait, I have something for you” before retrieving a knife from his home.
The victim fell out of her vehicle after being stabbed and Moser put her in the back hatch before getting into the driver’s seat.
Moser then asked his mother to follow him to PennWest California University in southwestern Pennsylvania to drop off the vehicle, the affidavit said.
Heintz’s father had asked police to look for his daughter’s vehicle after she failed to return to campus, and indicated an AirTag in the vehicle showed she was in a parking lot, according to a criminal complaint.
Police found Karoline Heintz’s body in the vehicle.
The AirTag also indicated Heintz had been at Moser’s home earlier.
Royce and Rachel Moser were later located at Rachel Moser’s residence in Beallsville.
According to the affidavit, Rachel Moser told her son to bathe and change his clothes, which she placed in a washing machine.
She then took the knife and put it in a garbage bag to dispose of in the trash outside her home, according to the affidavit.
The knife was retrieved after investigators obtained a search warrant.
Royce and Rachel Moser both were charged with tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse and obstruction of justice.
Rachel Moser, 56, also was charged with hindering the apprehension of a fugitive and criminal use of a communication device.
Their next court appearance is a formal arraignment scheduled for Oct. 13.
Mother and son are being held without bail in the Washington County jail.
Heintz’s family issued a statement asking the public to respect their wishes for privacy.
“This is a parent’s worst nightmare,” the statement said. “It has been devastating for family, friends, and the whole community. Karoline was loved by all. She was a kind, smart, beautiful girl. We want justice for our “sweet” Karoline.”
