Authorities released 37 minutes of police bodycam footage on Thursday documenting the discovery of 18-year-old Karoline Heintz’s body inside her Jeep, a case that has resulted in homicide and evidence-tampering charges against her boyfriend and his mother, according to state police and court documents.
Bodycam Footage Reveals Discovery of Karoline Heintz
The newly released video from the California, Pennsylvania, police department shows an officer walking up to Heintz’s Jeep in the dark. The officer points a flashlight inside the back window, calls for emergency medical services on his radio, and checks for vital signs. When an operator asks if she is breathing, the officer responds negatively, stating that there is “blood everywhere” before breaking two windows to gain access to the vehicle, according to the police bodycam footage and criminal complaints.
Heintz, a freshman on the women’s soccer team at PennWest California University, had failed to return to campus on Aug. 20, prompting her father to contact police. According to a criminal complaint, her father tracked her movements using an AirTag inside the vehicle, which showed the Jeep had been parked near the California Borough Library and had visited the home of her boyfriend earlier that day.
Did You Know? Karoline Heintz’s father used an AirTag located inside her Jeep to help authorities trace her movements to a parking lot and to the home of her boyfriend before her body was discovered on Aug. 20.
The Boyfriend’s Confession and Alleged Cover-Up
Royce Moser, 18, of North Strabane Township, faces a homicide charge in connection with Heintz’s death. According to a police affidavit, Moser told investigators that he became angry with Heintz during a conversation in her vehicle in his driveway, claiming that a “demon take over” told him to stab her.
Investigators state that Moser told Heintz he had something for her, retrieved a knife from his home, and subsequently placed her body in the back hatch after she fell out of the vehicle. Moser then asked his mother, 56-year-old Rachel Moser, to follow him to PennWest California University to drop off the Jeep, according to court documents.
Charges and Upcoming Court Dates
Both Royce Moser and Rachel Moser were located by investigators at Rachel Moser’s residence in Beallsville. According to the affidavit, Rachel Moser instructed her son to bathe and change his clothes, placed the garments in a washing machine, and put the knife into a garbage bag to discard outside.
The knife was later recovered after investigators obtained a search warrant. Both mother and son face charges of tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and obstruction of justice. Rachel Moser faces additional charges for hindering the apprehension of a fugitive and criminal use of a communication device. Mother and son are being held without bail in the Washington County jail, with a formal arraignment scheduled for Oct. 13.
Frequently Asked Questions
What charges do Royce and Rachel Moser face?
Royce Moser faces a homicide charge, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and obstruction of justice. Rachel Moser faces charges of tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, obstruction of justice, hindering the apprehension of a fugitive, and criminal use of a communication device.
Where was Karoline Heintz’s body found?
According to state police and court documents, Heintz’s body was found inside the back of her Jeep, which had been left parked near campus and the California Borough Library.
When is the next court appearance for the defendants?
Both Royce and Rachel Moser are scheduled for a formal arraignment on Oct. 13 and are currently being held without bail in the Washington County jail.
How do communities and athletic programs support students and families following such devastating campus tragedies?
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