Police say that Pennsylvania Western University soccer player Karoline Heintz was stabbed to death by her boyfriend and that the man’s own mother helped him dump the victim’s body.
Heintz was found dead in the back of her Jeep Cherokee at around 12:30 a.m. on Thursday, near the school’s campus, the New York Post reported.
A police investigation has found that the freshman soccer player met up with her boyfriend, Royce Mosher, after she left a family party that evening, Pennsylvania State Trooper Rocco Gagliardi told the media.
Heintz had met up with Mosher at his home, and they reportedly began arguing.
“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,” Trooper Gagliardi said. “Towards the end of that conversation between boyfriend and girlfriend, he goes inside and grabs a large knife from the kitchen.”
Heintz had walked out to her car, and after he retrieved the knife, Mosher allegedly returned to the car and stabbed Heintz in the chest. He then put her bleeding body in the back hatch and drove the car to his mother’s home in Beallsville.
Rachel Mosher, the accused killer’s mom, then reportedly tried to help her son clean his clothing and planned out what to do with the car and body.
“They tried to clean clothes, tried to clean the car up, tried to get rid of any blood stains possible and then proceeded to take that vehicle with the mother tailing all the way down to California Borough,” Gagliardi explained.
After Heintz was reported missing, police followed her cell phone signal to the parking lot outside the California Borough Library, where the Moshers left her car parked.
The Moshers were both arrested on Thursday and charged with the murder.
The accused killer reportedly said that he had a “demon take over” when he murdered Karoline.
The 18-year-old suspect was charged with criminal homicide, two counts of tampering with evidence, two counts of abuse of a corpse, and obstruction. His 57-year-old mother was charged with tampering, obstruction, hindering the apprehension of a fugitive, and abuse of a corpse.
Rachel Mosher was despondent at her arraignment and afterward said, “I’m sorry that my son took a life.”
Heintz had only just graduated from high school and was prepared to start her college career this year after committing to play soccer at PennWest University.
“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,” the school said in a statement.
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