A Pennsylvania mother and her 18-year-old son have been arrested for their alleged involvement in the death of a university student.
According to police, Karoline Heintz, an 18-year-old first-year student at PennWest University in California, was fatally stabbed by her boyfriend Royce Mosher. The incident occurred during a confrontation that turned violent after the two met outside Mosher’s father’s residence in North Strabane.
State police discovered Heintz’s body inside the rear hatch area of Mosher’s Jeep Cherokee outside the California Borough Library with “noticeable blood spatter” both inside and outside the vehicle. Police reported that during their meeting on Wednesday, Mosher became angry but could not recall what triggered it. Court documents state that Mosher then allegedly experienced a “demon take over” and stabbed Karoline Heintz in the chest.
After the stabbing, Mosher placed Heintz in the rear hatch of his vehicle and drove to his mother Rachel Mosher’s home in Beallsville. The mother assisted by cleaning the Jeep with sprays and providing latex gloves for her son before instructing him to drive the car to a location near the library where Heintz would be left.
Both Royce Mosher and his mother were arrested last Thursday and are being held without bail at Washington County Prison as they await preliminary hearings. They have been 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.
Heintz’s parents described the incident as “a parent’s worst nightmare,” stating their daughter was “loved by all” and was “a kind, smart, beautiful girl.” PennWest University confirmed Heintz was a member of its women’s soccer team and expressed deep sorrow over her death.
