Teen blamed a ‘demon’ for stabbing girlfriend, while mom helped cover it up, police say

A chilling 37-minute police bodycam video released Thursday captures the gruesome moment officers discovered the body of a Pennsylvania college student hidden inside her own vehicle — a brutal killing her teenage boyfriend blamed on a “demon,” court records show.

Royce Moser, 18, of North Strabane Township, stands charged with criminal homicide in the death of Karoline Heintz, a student at PennWest California University. His 56-year-old mother, Rachel Moser, is accused of helping orchestrate a twisted cover-up to shield her son.

According to a criminal complaint, Heintz’s father raised the alarm when she failed to return to campus, tracking her location via an Apple AirTag inside her Jeep. Police located the vehicle in a campus parking lot, where the footage shows an officer peering through the dark glass with a flashlight before shouting for backup.

“Control, I need EMS here right now,” the officer frantically radioed. “I’ve got an unconscious female in the back of this car right now… I’ve got blood everywhere.”

After smashing two windows to reach the victim, officers confirmed the horrific scene.

In a police affidavit, investigators detail how Royce Moser allegedly snapped during an argument in his driveway, telling Heintz to wait before grabbing a knife from inside his home.

Moser told police a “demon took over” and instructed him to stab the young woman. After the attack, Moser shoved Heintz’s body into the rear hatch, took the wheel, and had his mother follow him to the university to dump the vehicle, according to authorities.

State police say the cover-up didn’t end there. Investigators allege Rachel Moser brought her son to her Beallsville home, ordered him to bathe, threw his bloody clothes in the washing machine, and stuffed the murder weapon into a trash bag. Police later recovered the knife after executing a search warrant.

Both mother and son face charges of tampering with evidence, abuse of a corpse, and obstruction of justice. Rachel Moser faces additional counts including hindering apprehension.

Defense counsel for Royce Moser declined to comment, while a representative for Rachel Moser did not immediately return requests for comment.

The mother-son duo are being held without bail at the Washington County Jail ahead of an Oct. 13 formal arraignment.

“This is a parent’s worst nightmare,” Heintz’s family said in a statement. “Karoline was loved by all. She was a kind, smart, beautiful girl. We want justice for our ‘sweet’ Karoline.”