Boyfriend Stabbed PA College Student To Death, Left Body In Jeep: Police

CALIFORNIA, PA — New details emerged late Thursday on the fatal stabbing of a PennWest California student whose body was found in her vehicle near the campus early Thursday.

Authorities said the boyfriend of Karoline Heintz, 18, killed her, put her body in the hatch of Jeep Cherokee and then got his mother to help dispose of her body.

Ryan Moser, 18, is charged with criminal homicide, tampering with evidence, obstruction and abuse of a corpse. Rachel Moser, 56, is charged with tampering with evidence, obstruction, hindering apprehension and abuse of a corpse.

Royce Moser was not a PennWest California student. Heintz, of McMurray, was a recent Peters Township High School graduate. She was on the PennWest California women's soccer team and was set to begin classes on Monday. Royce Moser was not a PennWest California student.

Her body was found in her vehicle near the California Borough Public Library along Wood Street around 12:30 a.m., according to the Washington County Coroner's Office.

The coroner's office said that Heintz was with family earlier in the day on Wednesday and was to return to campus housing. Family members tracked the location of her vehicle and contacted 911 after she failed to check in at an agreed-upon time.

At a news conference on Thursday night, Pennsylvania State Trooper Rocco Gagliardi detailed the circumstances surrounding Heintz's death.

He said that Heintz and Royce Moser met outside his father's home in North Strabane Wednesday to discuss the future of their relationship. "Somewhere that conversation probably goes a little bit south," Gagliardi said.

According to Gagliardi, towards the end of the conversation Moser went into the residence, grabbed a large kitchen knife and then stabbed Heintz in the chest area. After she fell out of the vehicle, Moser picked her up and put her into the vehicle's hatch.

Moser then drove the Jeep to his mother's home in Beallsville to talk to her about what to do.

"They try to clean clothes, they try to clean the car up, they try to get rid of any bloodstains," Gagliardi said.

Royce Moser then allegedly drove the Jeep to California, with his mother trailing him in another vehicle. After Royce Moser left the Jeep in a parking lot, he and Rachel Moser drove back to her residence together.

"Eighteen-year-old girl, young, soccer star, ready to explore life, ready to start college now can no longer get to do that," Gagliardi said. "Her family, great family, unfortunately we had to deliver all this news to them."

Gagliardi said the knife used in the crime has been recovered.

The university issued the following statement on Thursday:

"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."

Royce Moser and Rachel Moser both face preliminary hearings on Aug. 31.