Mother, Teen Son Plead Not Guilty in Girlfriend's Death

Royce Moser, 18, and his mother, Rachel Moser, 56, pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges in the killing of Karoline Heintz, a college student who was found dead in her car in August. The arraignments took place in Washington County, Pennsylvania.

Royce Moser faces charges including murder. Rachel Moser is charged with hindering apprehension of a fugitive. Both also face charges of tampering with or fabricating evidence and abuse of a corpse, according to court records.

Investigators allege that Heintz met with Royce Moser outside his residence to talk, at which point he reportedly became angry, entered the house, retrieved a large kitchen knife, and stabbed Heintz in the chest. Pennsylvania State Police claim that after she fell from the vehicle, Royce Moser placed her in the rear hatch area of the Jeep and drove to his mother's residence.

There, Rachel Moser allegedly assisted her son by attempting to clean the vehicle and providing him with latex gloves. She then instructed him to follow her to PennWest-California University. According to police, the two then left the vehicle with Heintz inside near the university's library and returned to Rachel Moser's home, where Royce Moser showered and cleaned his clothes.

The district attorney's office is requesting a jury trial, and the cases are expected to be consolidated. The court is awaiting the results of psychological evaluations for both Royce and Rachel Moser.