WJPA News

The body of 18-year-old Karoline Heintz, a first year student at PennWest California University, was found In the early morning hours of August 20. Heintz’s family contacted California Borough Police after they were unable to contact her as earlier planned. Her body was found stabbed and stuffed into an SUV in front of the California Public Library. Pennsylvania State Police were able to add more detail to her killing.  Heintz’s boyfriend Royce Moser and his mother Rachel Moser are facing multiple felony charges for Heintz’s killing. State Police Spokesperson Rocco Gagliardi provided the order of events that led up to the killing. According to Gagliardi, a party was held at Heintz’s Peters Township home. Heintz and Moser then went to Moser’s father’s home in North Strabane Township where an argument ensued. Royce went into his father’s home, retrieved a knife and stabbed Heintz. Moser took Heintz in her car to his mother’s home in Beallsville where they attempted to clean up blood evidence. They then took the vehicle to California Borough and dumped it in front of the library. Police apprehended the pair at Rachel Moser’s Beallsville home. Interviews with the pair took up most of the day before they were taken to the Washington County Jail at roughly 7:30 pm. Royce Moser is being charged with homicide abuse of a corpse and tampering with evidence and other related charges. Rachel Moser is facing hindering the apprehension of a fugitive, abuse of a corpse and evidence tampering and other charges. Both are awaiting preliminary arraignment either late Thursday or first thing in the morning on Friday. The cause and manner of death are pending an autopsy. Police state that this is an isolated incident and there is no reason for further concern. (Photo:  PennWest)

The cases of two men accused of killing a Langeloth woman and injuring her son during a botched robbery attempt in June of 2025 continue to make their way through court. During a status conference hearing, Michael Pyles 39, of New Martinsville, West Virginia requested a December jury trial. His accomplice, Walter Winland, 39 of Canonsburg asked for a continuance in order to have his case severed from Pyles’ case. Police records state that the two devised a plan to rob 37 year old Renee Gill of drugs. During the robbery attempt, Gill’s son Ronald Brown got into a fight with Pyles causing a gun to fire and strike Brown. The fight continued and the gun went off a second time striking Gill and the shot eventually killed her. Both men face homicide, robbery and aggravated assault charges along with other related charges. They continue to be held in the Washington County Jail without bond.

Washington County Commissioners voted Thursday to file an appeal to Commonwealth Court, a recent decision from Judge Michael Lucas that they do not have the right to file a Right To Know action to gain access to financial records from the Washington County Tourism Promotion Agency. Commissioners Nick Sherman and Electra Janis voted in favor of the appeal. Commissioner Larry Maggi voted against. Sherman says that he is not happy with the level of spending by the agency on salaries and fees. He is not satisfied with the audits supplied to commissioners as enough financial information. He is particularly displeased with the salary of WCTPA President Jeff Kotula. Sherman says that if the agency provides all of their financial records, the lawsuit will be dropped. Kotula says that they have provided all of the information that Commissioners are seeking and that both the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records and the Common Pleas Court have both decided that the WCTPA is not subject to the Right To Know Law. Sherman feels that an appeals court should make the decision to set a precedent on how county’s may be able to aid in an agency’s spending. Commissioner Larry Maggi says the action is a waste of time and money. They have already lost twice and spent $30,000 that could have been better spent elsewhere. Sherman is looking to build a youth sports complex that would possibly enhance the county’s hotel tax that he says has been decreasing over the years. Kotula says that the agency presented a proposal last year that would be a public/private venture instead of using county dollars to fund such a project. Commissioners have until August 28 to file that appeal.

PITTSBURGH — A case of measles has reached the Pittsburgh area.  The Allegheny County Health Department says a person who visited the emergency department at UPMC Children’s Hospital on Aug. 12 and 18 has tested positive for measles.  The person is not from Allegheny County and is currently in isolation.  UPMC will call patients who were exposed during those two days.  ACHD tells anyone who was in the exposure area and hasn’t had two doses of the Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine to call their health care provider. Individuals should not go to a health care facility without calling ahead.  Measles is a highly contagious virus that can spread through breaths, coughs or sneezes.  Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose and irritated eyes, followed by a rash that starts on the head and spreads downward.

GEORGES TOWNSHIP, Pa. — A motorcyclist was killed in a crash involving a box truck in Fayette County on Thursday.  The crash happened at around 8 a.m. near the intersection of Valley School and Morgantown roads in Georges Township.  Fayette County Coroner Dr. Bob Baker identified the victim as Charles Plum, 17, of Lake Lynn.  Plum was taken to a hospital in an ambulance, where he was later pronounced dead.  State Police say the motorcycle hit the box truck at a high rate of speed. This happened as the truck attempted to make a left turn onto Morgantown Road from Valley School Road.

NEW YORK (AP) — Heavy rain and winds are pounding the Northeast U.S. Storms tore through a beach on Long Island and stranded dozens of people in their cars in New Jersey on Thursday. Photos and video shared on social media show debris thrown in the air and rain pummeling down as a possible tornado touched down at Atlantic Beach on Long Island’s outer barrier. It tore apart a major beach club, leaving broken beach chairs and wood beams littered across the shoreline. No major injuries have been reported. Police in Dover, Delaware, say a likely tornado touched down and caused significant damage across the city.

Iran has dismissed U.S. President Donald Trump’s threats of economic pain and isolation. Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said Thursday that it will only increase hostility after Trump threatened “crushing economic measures” against Iran. Doctors Without Borders has condemned the decision by Israel’s military not to investigate two fatal attacks on the medical humanitarian group’s staff. Six European countries rebuked Israel over a settlement project near Jerusalem. The U.K. calls it “an unacceptable and destructive act.” A mass funeral was held in Gaza City for 50 people killed in Israeli airstrikes nearly three years ago but whose remains were just recovered.

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The U.S. and South Korean militaries are wrapping their annual drills six days earlier than initially scheduled in a conciliatory gesture toward North Korea. The end of the drills set for Friday comes after North Korea said such a step isn’t enough to convince it to return to talks. U.S. President Donald Trump earlier abruptly ordered the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises just before they began Monday. Trump cited what he described as a good relationship with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and South Korea’s refusal to support him over the war in Iran.

JUNEAU, Alaska (AP) — The U.S. military says a charter aircraft carrying eight people crashed at a remote radar site in western Alaska on Thursday, killing all on board. The crash happened at Cape Newenham Long Range Radar Site Airport, approximately 450 miles west of Anchorage, Alaska. Clint Johnson with the National Transportation Safety Board had said earlier there were two pilots and six passengers on board. The plane had taken off from Anchorage and was believed to have crashed early Thursday afternoon on approach to Cape Newenham, according to Johnson.