Karoline Heintz’s family used an Apple AirTag to search for her Jeep when the freshman soccer player did not return to her PennWest housing, and the hunt ended with police finding her stabbed body inside the vehicle.
The Pennsylvania Western University student had left a family party before meeting her boyfriend, Royce Mosher. Hours later, investigators say, his mother was helping him wash clothes, handle the knife and get the Jeep back to California Borough with Heintz’s body still inside.
The AirTag led Heintz’s relatives to her Jeep Cherokee near the California Public Library, where they called 911 shortly after midnight Thursday, WPXI reported.
Blood on the vehicle sent police to the cargo area, where Heintz was found dead.
Pennsylvania State Trooper Rocco Gagliardi told reporters that Heintz and Mosher had been discussing whether their relationship could continue as college began.
“They’re a younger couple talking about how relationships can continue maybe in a college setting,” Gagliardi said. “Somewhere that conversation probably goes a little bit south.”
Court filings reviewed by WPXI place the alleged knife retrieval after Mosher told Heintz, “Wait, I have something for you.”
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Heintz was back at her car when Mosher allegedly came out with the knife and stabbed her in the chest.
He then allegedly moved her body into the Jeep and drove to Rachel Mosher’s home in Beallsville.
WTAE reported that Royce Mosher told police his mother offered to disinfect the vehicle. The complaint also says Rachel Mosher gave him latex gloves, told him to “take a bath and then shower,” put the knife in a garbage bag and moved his clothes into the washing machine.
Gagliardi said the cleanup effort covered both Mosher’s clothing and Heintz’s Jeep before mother and son headed back toward California Borough.
“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 said.
Police also used Heintz’s cell phone signal after she was reported missing, locating the library lot where the Moshers allegedly left the Jeep.
Royce Mosher, 18, reportedly said a “demon take over” happened when he killed Heintz, WTAE reported.
He also reportedly told investigators he became enraged by something his girlfriend had said.
Mosher was charged with criminal homicide, obstruction, two counts of tampering with evidence and two counts of abuse of a corpse.
Rachel Mosher was charged with tampering, obstruction, hindering the apprehension of a fugitive and abuse of a corpse.
She apologized for the killing after her arraignment but denied helping her son conceal it.
“I’m sorry that my son took a life,” Rachel Mosher said.
State police later took her to a squad car in wrist and ankle shackles while reporters pressed her about the accusation.
Asked why she helped her son cover up a murder, Rachel Mosher covered her face and answered, “I did not.”
Heintz had graduated from high school and was preparing to start college 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,” the school said. “Our heartfelt condolences go out to her family, friends, and all those affected by this tragedy.”
A separate case in California put parents in the opposite role after two 13-year-old boys were surrendered to police by their families following an alleged attack on a father in a hot tub.
Greg Medina, a 48-year-old single father, was in a jacuzzi at the Creekside Village apartments in San Bernardino last week when the boys allegedly struck him from behind, kicked him in the back of the head and took his iPhone.
The blow left Medina with a concussion and required an emergency room visit.
After police searched for the boys for days, both were arrested Friday on felony charges. Their names were not released because of their ages.
One father reached Medina through Facebook and said his son had been involved before the teen was handed to detectives, The New York Post reported.
At the jail, Medina met the boys and their families and learned the alleged reason for the attack. The teens had allegedly been trying to make a TikTok video and took his phone so he could not call 911.
“I was glad to get an answer but disappointed TikTok was the reason,” Medina said.
The Aug. 14 attack came after Medina, a chef who feeds the homeless, went to the apartment complex hot tub while listening to a school lecture through earbuds.
“This day I decided to and felt a sharp kick behind my head,” Medina told KTLA. “I saw the kids off in the distance, really didn’t pay much attention to them.”
Video showed one boy kicking Medina while the other grabbed the phone from the concrete. Medina said the teens laughed during the assault and ran away without saying a word.
The boy accused of kicking him was booked into Juvenile Hall on robbery and battery charges. The other teen was booked on a robbery charge.
“I don’t have to worry about them being out on the streets now, there is a sense of relief from that,” Medina told The Post.
