Tragedy struck as Karoline Heintz, an 18-year-old freshman set to join the soccer team at Pennsylvania Western University — California, was reportedly killed in a stabbing incident. The alleged assailant is her boyfriend, Royce Moser, whose mother is also accused of complicity in the aftermath.
In a shocking revelation during a police interview, Moser, also 18, claimed that he was under the influence of a “demon” that urged him to attack his girlfriend, according to the court documents filed in connection with the case.
According to Pennsylvania State Police reports, the tragic event unfolded when Heintz went to meet Moser outside his father’s home in North Strabane for a conversation.
Detailing the horrifying incident, investigators noted that Heintz was inside her parked vehicle, conversing with Moser in the driveway. The conversation reportedly took a dark turn when Moser, angered by something Heintz said — though he couldn’t recall what — claimed that a ‘demon’ seized control of his actions and directed him to stab her, as stated in the court documents.
Karoline Heintz was allegedly murdered by her boyfriend, Royce Moser. (Instagram/ kheintz_57)
“He told her ‘wait I have something for you’ and went inside of the residence to get a knife. He then came back outside and stabbed her in the chest. She fell out of the vehicle and he attempted to drag her to the back of her car. He put her in the back hatch of the vehicle and then got in the driver seat,” the criminal complaints say.
Authorities say the 18-year-old Moser then called his mother, Rachel, who allegedly proceeded to assist him after the stabbing.
Royce Moser is accused of stabbing his girlfriend, Karoline Heintz, to death. (Instagram/ kheintz_57)
Rachel Moser allegedly told him to come to her house. When he arrived, she allegedly told her son to pull the car into the garage and that she would help him clear the vehicle with disinfectant spray, according to court documents.
“She then gave him latex gloves and told him to follow her vehicle toward the university. They left the victim’s vehicle in the parking lot and he got in her car to leave,” the criminal complaints state. “She took the knife that was used to stab the victim and put it in a garbage bag to be put in the trash outside of her residence. She put his clothes into the washing machine.”
The California Police Department was notified just after midnight Thursday to check the area near the California Library after Heintz failed to return to campus.
Karoline Heintz was on the Pennsylvania Western University soccer team. (Instagram/ kheintz_57)
Officers found her body in the rear hatch of a Jeep Cherokee near the library, and authorities said noticeable blood spatter was visible inside and outside the vehicle.
Royce Moser is charged with homicide, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, conspiracy to commit abuse of a corpse and obstruction of justice, Pennsylvania State Police said Thursday.
Karoline Heintz and Royce Moser seen in a photo on her Instagram. (Instagram/ kheintz_57)
His mother faces charges of hindering apprehension of a fugitive, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, conspiracy to commit tampering with evidence, conspiracy to commit abuse of a corpse and obstruction of justice, state police said.
The school provided News Media with the following statement on Friday: “PennWest University is heartbroken by the tragic death of Karoline Heintz, a first-year student-athlete at the California campus. Our deepest condolences are with Karoline’s family, friends, teammates, and all those whose lives she touched. We are focused on supporting members of our university community as they grieve this devastating loss.”