Teen Accused of Killing Girlfriend Before Mom Helped Cover It Up

A Pennsylvania teen and his mother are both behind bars after authorities say he killed his 18-year-old girlfriend and then turned to his mom for help covering it up.

Royce Moser, 18, is charged with criminal homicide in the death of Karoline Heintz, a freshman soccer player at PennWest California.

His mother, Rachel Moser, is charged with hindering apprehension and obstruction.

The investigation began early Thursday after Heintz’s family became worried when they could no longer reach her.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said officers conducted a welfare check around 12:30 a.m.

According to a probable cause affidavit, Heintz had left her family’s home around 9:30 p.m. and was believed to be heading to Target before returning to her college dorm.

Her father checked her phone location and saw that she had stopped at Royce Moser’s home.

About 30 minutes later, her phone appeared to be moving again.

When her father still could not reach her, police used an AirTag in Heintz’s Jeep Cherokee to track down the vehicle.

Officers found the Jeep near a library in the borough of California, about 40 miles south of Pittsburgh.

Police said they noticed blood inside the vehicle.

When officers opened the rear hatch, they found Heintz’s body inside.

A preliminary examination showed a wound to her chest, according to court documents. Investigators also said fresh grass was found on parts of her body and around her mouth.

Surveillance footage later became a major part of the investigation.

Police said video appeared to show Royce driving Heintz’s Jeep near where it was eventually found. He was allegedly wearing blue latex gloves.

Another vehicle driven by a woman who was also wearing latex gloves was seen nearby, according to investigators.

Police later identified that woman as Royce’s mother, Rachel.

Within roughly 12 hours, both were taken into custody.

According to police, Royce admitted that Heintz had come to his home around 10:15 p.m. and that the two talked while she sat inside her vehicle.

He allegedly told investigators that he became angry over something she said, although he claimed he could not remember what it was.

Royce then allegedly told police that a “demon” took over and told him to stab her.

According to the affidavit, he told Heintz to wait because he had something for her, went inside the house and returned with a knife.

Police allege he then stabbed her in the chest.

Heintz reportedly fell from the vehicle, and Royce allegedly dragged her to the back of the Jeep and placed her body in the rear cargo area.

Investigators say he then called his mother for help.

When Rachel arrived, she allegedly told her son to pull the Jeep into the garage so they could clean it with disinfectant.

Police said she gave him latex gloves and instructed him to follow her as they moved the Jeep.

Rachel later allegedly told investigators that her son called her early Thursday and asked her to follow him to PennWest so he could drop off a vehicle.

Authorities say that while they were driving home afterward, Royce admitted to his mother that he had stabbed Heintz with a knife from his house.

He allegedly told her that “demons” had told him to hurt Heintz and that he did not know whether she was dead or alive.

Police say Rachel then told her son to take a bath, shower and change his clothes.

She allegedly washed his clothing and placed the knife in a garbage bag outside the home to be thrown away.

Investigators later executed a search warrant and said they recovered a chef’s knife from a garbage bag at the property.

Heintz had recently graduated from Peters Township High School and was a freshman member of the PennWest California soccer team.

The university released a statement mourning her death.

“PennWest University is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Karoline Heintz, who was a first-year student at the California campus,” the school said.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and all those affected by this tragedy.”

Royce and Rachel Moser were being held at the Washington County Jail.

The charges against them are allegations, and the case remains ongoing.