Karoline Heintz, an 18-year-old incoming freshman on the women's soccer team at Pennsylvania Western University, was found dead in the back hatch of her Jeep Cherokee at around 12:30 a.m. Thursday, just outside the campus in California, Pennsylvania. Her boyfriend, Royce Mosher, is accused of stabbing her to death, and his mother, Rachel Mosher, allegedly helped dispose of the body.
Details of the Incident
Pennsylvania State Trooper Rocco Gagliardi told reporters that Heintz had met up with Mosher after attending a family party earlier in the evening. The couple gathered at Mosher's father's home in North Strabane Township, where they began discussing their relationship inside her car before the conversation turned "a little bit south."
"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 said. "Towards the end of that conversation between boyfriend and girlfriend, he goes inside and grabs a large knife from the kitchen."
Mosher allegedly told Heintz he had something for her, which allowed him to run inside and grab the weapon. He returned to the vehicle and was accused of stabbing Heintz in the chest as she fell out of the car.
Disposal of the Body and Arrest
Mosher allegedly stuffed his girlfriend in the back hatch of the Jeep before racing to his mother's home in Beallsville, Pennsylvania, seeking 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 she failed to check in with them when she was supposed to have returned to her dorm room. Her 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 Mosher, were arrested Thursday morning, August 20. The teen allegedly confided in his mother that he had a "demon take over" and was told to stab Heintz, according to CBS News Pittsburgh. Officials did not reveal a motive behind the stabbing and did not say if mental history played a factor in Mosher's alleged attack.
Charges and Reactions
Mosher was charged with criminal homicide, two counts of tampering with evidence, two counts of abuse of a corpse, and obstruction. His 57-year-old mother was charged with tampering, obstruction, hindering the apprehension of a fugitive, and abuse of a corpse.
Rachel Mosher hid her face and kept her head down as she was hounded by reporters during her walk out to a police car. She claimed she "did not" do it before apologizing to Heintz's family, according to video from WTAE. "I'm sorry," Rachel Mosher said as she climbed into the car. "That my son took a life."
Gagliardi described the event as "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." Heintz had graduated from Peters Township High School in June and 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.
