Police | Pennsylvania mother charged after allegedly helping son dispose of girlfriend’s body
CANONSBURG, Pa. —
A Pennsylvania mother has been charged after allegedly helping her son, Royce Moser, who police say murdered his girlfriend, 18-year-old Karoline Heintz, and disposed of her body.
Police detail killing and disposal of Heintz’s body
According to a criminal complaint, Moser told police that Heintz said something that made him angry, and a “demon took over.” Police said he then grabbed a knife and stabbed her in the chest at his father’s house in North Strabane Township.
Police said Moser placed Heintz’s body in the hatch of her car and later called his mother, Rachel Moser, for help. Investigators said the two drove separately to California, Pennsylvania, where Heintz was preparing to start college, and dumped her body and car in front of the borough library.
AirTag and surveillance video aid investigation
Police said Heintz’s family called for a welfare check after not hearing from her and tracked her location using an AirTag on her car.
“They tried to clean clothes, they tried to clean the car up, and they tried to get rid of any blood stains,” PSP Trp. Rocco Gagliardi said.
Court documents revealed surveillance video showing Moser driving Heintz’s car while wearing latex gloves near the location where her body was found.
Schools offer condolences and grief counseling
PennWest California officials extended their condolences to Heintz’s family and friends. Peters Township High School, where Heintz recently graduated, is offering grief counseling for students.