Karoline Heintz

Karoline Heintz died in Washington County, Pennsylvania, in the overnight hours between August 19 and August 20, 2026. She had met with Royce Moser outside his father's residence in North Strabane to talk, and during the encounter, Royce Moser allegedly became angry, retrieved a large kitchen knife from inside the residence, and stabbed Heintz in the chest.

Investigators say Royce Moser then placed Heintz in the rear hatch area of the Jeep and drove to Beallsville, where his mother, Rachel Moser, resides, where she allegedly helped him. Rachel Moser then allegedly assisted him by attempting to clean the Jeep Cherokee and provided him with latex gloves and told him to follow her to the university. They then left the vehicle near California's library with Heintz still inside.

The investigation began just after midnight on August 20, 2026, when the California Police Department was asked to search for a Jeep Cherokee after Karoline Heintz failed to return to California University. Police say that was when they found her dead inside the back hatch of the vehicle. Authorities quickly identified Royce Moser as a suspect, and within days both he and his mother had been arrested and charged.

News of Heintz's death prompted grief in Peters Township, where she had grown up and played soccer through high school. The Peters Township School District said Karoline Heintz signed a National Letter of Intent for soccer at PennWest California. As of today, no public funeral, memorial service or celebration of life has been announced, and the family has not released a detailed public statement beyond the facts confirmed through the ongoing investigation.

The criminal case has continued through the autumn of 2026. At a preliminary hearing in September, Washington County District Attorney Jason Walsh said location data collected from phones helped investigators follow Royce Moser's every move: from his home in North Strabane Township to his mother's home in Beallsville and then to California Borough, where police said they found Heintz's body. Royce Moser made numerous Google searches, including "what does God say about murder," after allegedly killing Heintz, and he reportedly told investigators that he had a "demon take over," telling him to stab his girlfriend, according to court paperwork. Moser and his mother, Rachel Moser, are due back in court in October for their formal arraignment , and both have since entered pleas of not guilty as the case proceeds toward trial.