Mom Allegedly Helped Son Clean Up After He Stabbed Girlfriend, Police Say

18-year-old Karoline Heintz was allegedly stabbed by her boyfriend after an argument, while police say his mother helped clean up evidence and dispose of the vehicle.

CALIFORNIA, Pa. — An 18-year-old college student and aspiring soccer player was found dead inside her vehicle early Thursday morning, and Pennsylvania State Police say her boyfriend is facing a criminal homicide charge in connection with her death.

Karoline Heintz, a recent Peters Township High School graduate, was found inside the rear hatch of her parked Jeep Cherokee near the California Borough Library at approximately 12:24 a.m. Thursday, according to police.

Authorities arrested 18-year-old Royce Moser and charged him with criminal homicide. His mother, Rachel Moser, is facing charges including hindering apprehension, tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse and obstruction, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

The case has shocked the local community and cast a devastating shadow over what should have been the beginning of Heintz's college career.

Heintz was attending PennWest California and had signed a National Letter of Intent to play soccer for the university. The Peters Township School District described her as a recent graduate who was preparing to begin her freshman year.

PennWest University said it was "deeply saddened" by her death and extended its condolences to Heintz's family, friends and everyone affected by the tragedy.

Police: Boyfriend allegedly stabbed Heintz during argument

According to the criminal complaint, Heintz left her family's home in Peters Township at approximately 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.

Her father later told investigators that he was tracking her location and noticed that she had stopped at Royce Moser's home in North Strabane Township.

Investigators say Heintz and Moser got into an argument while inside her vehicle.

Police allege that Moser became angry over something Heintz said, went inside his home, retrieved a large kitchen knife and returned to the vehicle.

"He goes inside and grabs a large knife from the kitchen, comes back out, and proceeds to stab her in the chest area," Trooper Rocco Gagliardi said during a news conference.

According to the complaint, Moser told investigators that he became enraged and claimed a "demon" had taken over him before he attacked Heintz.

Police say Moser then placed Heintz's body in the rear hatch of her Jeep Cherokee and drove the vehicle to his mother's residence in Beallsville Borough.

Police allege mother helped clean up evidence

Investigators say the case took an even more disturbing turn after Moser allegedly involved his mother.

According to police, Rachel Moser helped her son clean the vehicle using disinfectant spray and provided him with latex gloves.

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

Police allege the mother and son then traveled separately to California Borough, where they abandoned the Jeep.

The criminal complaint also alleges that Rachel Moser instructed her son to bathe and shower after he returned to her home.