Karoline Heintz, an 18-year-old soccer player at Pennsylvania Wester University - California, was found dead Thursday in a vehicle near the university campus in Washington County.
Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh confirmed that an 18-year-old man, identified as Royce Moser, was in a relationship with Heintz, has been charged in the death. His mother, Rachel Moser, has also been charged with helping her son, the suspect, to dispose of the body.
Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi told the media that Royce Moser and Karoline Heintz met up on Wednesday to discuss the future of their relationship, but that escalated into an altercation during which Royce fatally stabbed Heintz.
DA Jason Walsh described the incident as a "domestic situation," without further clarification on what exactly led to the altercation between them. According to the police, Royce Moser's mother, Rachel, allegedly came to the scene after the death and helped her son to dispose of the body and clean up the crime scene. The bodies were eventually found in a car on Wood Street around 12:30am EDT Saturday.
Rachel and Royce Moser are residents of Beallsville, in Washington County, Pennsylvania. According to the coroner, Rachel was staying at her campus housing and had visited Royce and Rachel's place on Wednesday evening. It is unclear if Royce Moser was also a student of PennWest California.
The criminal complaint states that Royce Moser said that he stabbed Heintz after hearing "demons" telling him to hurt his girlfriend. Heintz was found stabbed in the chest. Royce faces homicide charges while Rachel faces hindering apprehension, tampering with evidence and obstruction charges.
The family of Karoline Heintz, who live in nearby McMurray, called the police after the 18-year-old did not check in despite being slated to return from the Royces' place later on Wednesday evening. They were also able to track the location of her vehicle.
PennWest California released a statement on the death of Karoline Heintz, who they identified as a first-year student and a member of the college's soccer team.
"PennWest University is deeply saddened by the tragic death of Karoline Heintz, who was a first-year student at the California campus," the statement read. "Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and all those affected by this tragedy."
Shamik is a journalist covering the United States for Hindustan Times. He has more than four years of experience reporting on US politics, sports, and major breaking stories across fast-moving cycles. He previously worked at Times Now and Sportskeeda, building strong newsroom instincts and digital storytelling skills. At HT.com, he focuses on day-to-day coverage of US political developments while also handling high-impact stories that demand speed, accuracy, clarity, and context under pressure. Shamik has extensive experience covering NFL game days over the past two years, coordinating live updates, analysis, and explainers. He is particularly drawn to large news moments such as US elections and the Super Bowl, where he thrives at the news desk working alongside the team. He holds degrees in Media Studies from Jamia Millia Islamia and English Literature from Jadavpur University. Before entering journalism, he briefly worked in digital marketing and political consultancy roles. Currently a Senior Content Producer at HT Digital, he is driven by curiosity, discipline, and a constant desire to explore new and obscure topics. Outside work, he enjoys reading, films, sports, and learning continuously.Read More
