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The boyfriend’s mother allegedly gave him latex gloves and told him to clean himself up and change clothes
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An 18-year-old Pennsylvania college soccer player was allegedly stabbed to death by her boyfriend, who claimed “demons” told him to kill her before turning to his mother for help disposing of her body.
Karoline Heintz, an incoming freshman at PennWest University’s California campus, was found dead in the rear hatch of her Jeep near the California Public Library in Washington County just after midnight Thursday, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi told reporters.
Heintz’s family had contacted police for a welfare check after she failed to return to campus as expected. Investigators then found blood inside and outside the Jeep before discovering her body in the rear hatch.
Heintz and her boyfriend, Royce Moser, 18, met at his father’s North Strabane Township home Wednesday night to talk in the Jeep, according to police .
“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 Thursday.
Moser allegedly told Heintz he had something for her, then got out of the vehicle and went into the house. He allegedly returned with a large knife from the kitchen and stabbed her in the chest.
After Heintz fell from the vehicle, Moser placed her body in the rear hatch of the Jeep and drove about 16 miles to his mother’s home in Beallsville, authorities said.
Moser then enlisted his mother, Rachel Moser, to help cover up the killing, investigators say. The two allegedly tried to clean blood from the Jeep and their clothing before driving toward California Borough, with Rachel following in a separate vehicle.
They eventually left the Jeep near the California Public Library with Heintz’s body still inside, authorities said. Rachel then allegedly drove her son back to her home, where she provided him with latex gloves and told him to clean himself up and change clothes.
Heintz’s family had been tracking her vehicle and became increasingly concerned when she did not return to campus, police said. Officers responding to the welfare check found the Jeep near the library shortly after midnight.
Both Moser and his mother were arrested Thursday.
Moser is charged with criminal homicide, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse and obstruction. Rachel Moser faces charges including hindering the apprehension of a fugitive, tampering with evidence, obstruction and abuse of a corpse.
Royce Moser allegedly told his mother on the drive back to Beallsville that “demons” had taken him over and told him to stab Heintz.
He repeated that statement to investigators, police said. Authorities have not said whether Moser has a history of mental health issues.
Royce Moser remained stone-faced as he was led from a police station Thursday evening, handcuffed and dressed in a white jail jumpsuit.
Rachel Moser reacted differently. She buried her face in her hands as reporters questioned her, then quietly said, “Sorry.” When asked why she was sorry, she replied, “Because my son took a life,” as captured by CBS Pittsburgh .
Heintz graduated from Peters Township High School in June and was preparing to begin her college soccer career at PennWest California. She was listed on the university’s Division II women’s soccer roster, with the team’s first game scheduled for August 29.
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