Pennsylvania teen allegedly stabs soccer star girlfriend to death, claims a ‘demon’ took over. Then he ran to his mother to get rid of the body

The investigation into the death of 18-year-old Karoline Heintz has revealed a chilling series of events that began with a conversation about the future of a relationship and ended in a homicide charge for her boyfriend, Royce Moser. Pennsylvania authorities claim the young soccer player was fatally stabbed before her body was hidden in the back of her own vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, in a desperate attempt by the suspects to conceal the crime.

According to CBS Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Rocco Gagliardi provided a detailed timeline of the investigation during a news conference held on Thursday night. He explained that Heintz met up with Royce Moser outside his father’s home in North Strabane Township to discuss their relationship. Gagliardi alleged that the conversation between the couple, who were both 18, eventually took a turn. 

“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 claimed. “Towards the end of that conversation between boyfriend and girlfriend, he goes inside and grabs a large knife from the kitchen.”

A fatal argument

Per CBS, the criminal complaint alleges that Royce Moser told Heintz, “Wait, I have something for you,” before he retrieved the weapon. He then returned to the vehicle and per the complaint, stabbed her in the chest, causing her to fall out of the car. After the stabbing, Royce Moser allegedly placed Heintz into the hatch of her Jeep Cherokee and drove to his mother’s home in Beallsville.

Moser then allegedly recruited his mother, Rachel Moser, to help him cover up the crime. According to WTAE, the mother and son attempted to scrub away the evidence of the stabbing. “They try to clean clothes, they try to clean the car up, they try to get rid of any bloodstains,” Gagliardi said during the briefing. 

Per the Pennsylvania police press release, Rachel Moser allegedly provided her son with latex gloves and used disinfectant spray to clean the vehicle. She also allegedly instructed her son to “take a bath and then shower” and put his bloodied clothes into the washing machine. The knife used in the attack was reportedly placed into a garbage bag by his mother.

The pair then reportedly drove in separate vehicles to a parking lot near the California Public Library in California Borough, where they abandoned the Jeep. Per the outlets, it was here that Heintz’s family, who had become concerned when she failed to arrive at her dorm, tracked her location using an Apple AirTag. They contacted 911, and responding officers discovered the victim inside the back of the vehicle.

According to CBS, Heintz was an incoming freshman at PennWest California and had recently graduated from Peters Township High School, where she was a standout athlete. The New York Post reported that Heintz had committed to play Division II soccer for the university.

“It is more of an unfortunate event, 18-year-old girl, young soccer star ready to explore life, ready to start college, now can no longer get to do that,” Gagliardi reportedly said. Heintz isn’t the first talented soccer player we lost this year. In July, Jayden Adams, a South African FIFA star, was found dead under unconfirmed circumstances. 

During the resulting investigation, Royce Moser allegedly told police that he became angry during the conversation with Heintz, though he could not recall exactly what was said. According to the NY Post, he claimed that a “demon take over” occurred, which compelled him to attack his girlfriend. 

This claim was echoed in the criminal complaint, which stated that Rachel Moser told police her son claimed he had “demons” telling him to hurt her. In a different case of alleged divine influence, a Florida woman who claimed she was God allegedly ambushed a Deputy and claimed she could possess the judge.

Both suspects were taken into custody on Thursday morning. According to CBS, Royce Moser faces charges including criminal 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. 

His mother, Rachel Moser, reportedly faces charges of hindering the apprehension of a fugitive, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, conspiracy to commit tampering of evidence, conspiracy to commit abuse of a corpse, and obstruction.

As they were led out of the police station, Rachel was captured on video by WTAE expressing remorse. When asked why she was sorry, she replied, “That my son took a life.” The university has since released a statement regarding the loss of their student, calling the death a tragedy and extending condolences to the family and friends of Heintz. State police continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding this case.