Mother & Son Plead Not Guilty In College Student’s Death

October 13, 2026 6:14 pm

During a formal arraignment on Tuesday, a mother and son both pled not guilty to charges associated with the death of Karoline Heintz in August.  Heintz was found stabbed to death in her car, near the California Public Library.  Eighteen-year-old Royce Moser of North Strabane Township and his 56-year-old mother, Rachel Moser, of Beallsville are facing a laundry list of charges related to Heintz’s death.  The Mosers are accused of bringing Heintz’s SUV with her body inside and dumping it near the library.  Detectives were able to extract internet search evidence from Royce’s phone looking for information on how to remove fingerprints, how long Ring video is stored and information about the death penalty.  A Pennsylvania State Police detective had testified at an earlier hearing that Rachel Moser received a call from Royce asking for help and how she helped him transport the body and gather belongings from his home to have Royce stay at her home after the incident. In her interview with Royce, he said that Karoline and he were talking in his father’s driveway. She said something that got him upset. He told her to wait, he went into the house, retrieved a knife and returned and stabbed her.