CALIFORNIA, Pa. — A teen and his mother have been charged in the murder of PennWest California student Karoline Jordyn Heintz, who was found stabbed to death inside a vehicle early Thursday morning.
Heintz’s boyfriend, Royce Jones Moser, 18, has been charged with homicide, while his mother, Rachel Moser, is facing hindering and tampering charges, state police announced in a press conference.
Welfare Check Leads to Discovery of Body
On Thursday morning at around 12:24 a.m., police were called to the area of the California Public Library at 100 Wood Street, where they found Heintz, 18, dead inside the back hatch of a gray Jeep Cherokee.
Heintz was with family earlier in the day and was supposed to be returning to campus housing.
When Heintz never checked back in, authorities said family members tracked her vehicle’s location using an Apple AirTag to a parking area on Wood Street, not far from campus, and called 911 at around 12:14 a.m.
Investigation into the Murder
Throughout the day on Thursday, Channel 11 learned that state police investigated at two homes in Washington County in relation to Heintz’s death, which we later learned was Rachel Moser’s home and Royce Moser’s father’s home.
According to the criminal complaint filed against Royce Moser, the AirTag showed Heintz had stopped at his father’s house on William Drive in North Strabane Township.
The two had a conversation while they were sitting in Heintz’s vehicle in the driveway. Royce Moser told police that Heintz said something that made him angry, but he did not remember what it was.
According to court documents, Royce Moser said he told Heintz, “Wait, I have something for you,” before going back inside his house, grabbing a knife, coming back outside, and stabbing her in the chest.
Police said Royce Moser put Heintz in the back hatch of her vehicle.
Boyfriend’s Mother Accused of Helping Dispose Body and Evidence
After stabbing Heintz, police said that Royce Moser called his mother, Rachel Moser, who told him to come to her house on Main Street in Beallsville.
Once he got there, she told him to pull the car into the garage so she could help him clean it with disinfectant spray, according to the criminal complaint.
Police said Rachel Moser then gave him latex gloves and told him to follow her vehicle back to the university, where they left Heintz’s Jeep with her body still inside.
When the pair returned to Rachel Moser’s house, she allegedly told her son to “take a bath and shower” and change his clothes.
The complaint states that Rachel Moser then took the knife that was used to stab Heintz and put it in the trash outside. Police reported finding the knife while serving a search warrant.
When asked about the gloves in the surveillance footage, Rachel Moser told police that she had picked up dog poop before she left and still had the glove on.
Suspect said he had “demons”
Royce Moser told police that he had a “demon take over,” telling him to stab his girlfriend.
Rachel Moser also told troopers that her son told her that he had “demons” and that they told him to hurt Heintz. She said that when he first told her, she said she did not know if Heintz was “dead or alive.”
“My son took a life”
Troopers took both suspects into custody at Rachel’s Moser’s house in Beallsville. They were taken to Pennsylvania State Police barracks and interviewed.
Channel 11 was there late on Thursday evening when Royce Moser and Rachel Moser were led away in handcuffs and taken to jail.
Royce Moser didn’t answer any questions, but Rachel Moser apologized.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “My son took a life.”
Community Remembers Heintz
Channel 11 reached out to PennWest California, where Heintz was ready to begin her first semester.
“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.
“Pennsylvania State Police are investigating the incident, which occurred off campus, and PennWest University police are cooperating fully with the investigation.”
Heintz is listed on the 2026 Women’s Soccer Roster for the California Vulcans. She has been on campus practicing with her teammates ahead of the semester.
Heintz graduated from Peters Township High School in 2026, which sent Channel 11 the following statement:
“We were deeply saddened to learn of the tragic death of a member of the PTHS Class of 2026. We know that news like this can be difficult to process and we are sharing resources with our staff and students to support those in need. Throughout the coming days, we will have additional counselors and social workers available to students at the High School. Our thoughts are with the graduate’s family, friends, classmates, teachers, and all those affected by this heartbreaking loss.”
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