Dad tracks missing college soccer player’s Jeep with AirTag; boyfriend charged in her death

When 18-year-old Karoline Heintz didn’t return to campus, her father used an Apple AirTag in her Jeep to find it. The tracker led police to a PennWest California parking lot, where officers broke two windows and found her in the back of the vehicle.

Heintz, a soccer player at the Pennsylvania university, was killed on Aug. 19, authorities said. Her boyfriend, 18-year-old Royce Moser of North Strabane Township, was charged with criminal homicide. His mother, 56-year-old Rachel Moser, was charged with helping cover up the killing. Both pleaded not guilty.

Police body camera footage reported by The Associated Press shows an officer shining a flashlight through the Jeep’s dark windows before calling for emergency medical help. Officers broke the windows to reach Heintz.

According to a criminal complaint, Moser texted Heintz asking her to stop at his father’s house on her way back to college so he could give her a hug and a kiss. At a Sept. 1 hearing, Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Jessica Bishop testified that Heintz did not welcome the advance.

Investigators allege the two argued in the driveway and that Moser told Heintz to wait while he went inside. He returned with a knife, the complaint says. Moser told police a “demon took over” and told him to stab her. District Attorney Jason Walsh said prosecutors believe the killing was premeditated.

Investigators also testified that Moser’s phone recorded 32 searches for what removes fingerprints from objects and seven searches asking whether an 18-year-old could receive the death penalty.

Police allege Moser put Heintz’s body in the rear cargo area of her Jeep and drove it to campus while his mother followed. Investigators say Rachel Moser then took her son to her home in Beallsville, told him to bathe, put his bloody clothes in the washing machine and placed the knife in a trash bag. Police said they recovered the knife while executing a search warrant.

Both face additional charges of evidence tampering, abuse of a corpse and obstruction of justice. Rachel Moser also faces a charge of hindering apprehension. Both were held without bail.

The two entered their not guilty pleas at an Oct. 13 arraignment, according to WTAE. Prosecutors requested a jury trial, and the cases were expected to be tried together. A psychological evaluation for Royce Moser was pending, and a mental health evaluation had been requested for Rachel Moser. Their next court date was listed as Nov. 30.

Heintz’s family called her death “a parent’s worst nightmare” and remembered her as a kind, smart young woman who was loved by those who knew her.

“We want justice for our ‘sweet’ Karoline,” the family said.