August 19, 2026
Cop Follows Missing Teen's AirTag, Uncovers Murder in Parked Jeep
Just after midnight in California, Pennsylvania, a borough police officer follows a family's AirTag ping into the public library parking lot, searching for the Jeep of an 18-year-old college freshman who hasn't answered her family for hours. This police bodycam footage captures the welfare check that opened a homicide case - and the records from the next two weeks explain what the camera couldn't see.
Reconstructed timeline
Times from synchronized camera clocks and dispatch records.
9:45 PM
Heintz arrives at Moser's home
Karoline Heintz drives her gray Jeep Cherokee to Royce Moser's North Strabane Township home 'around 9:45 p.m.' Prosecutors allege Moser coerced her into coming. Report-only; minute value is the news '9:45 p.m.' rounded.
9:46 PM
Rebuffed advance, Moser becomes angry
The two sit in Heintz's Jeep; Moser allegedly tries to hug and kiss her, she is unwelcoming and says something that makes him angry. Exact time not stated; between the ~9:45 p.m. arrival and the 10:22 p.m. call. Report-only, ordering only.
9:48 PM
Body placed in rear hatch
Heintz falls from the vehicle; Moser drags her to the back of the Jeep and places her in the rear hatch area. Exact time not stated. Report-only.
10:22 PM
First call to mother (unanswered)
Phone extraction shows Royce first called Rachel Moser at 10:22 p.m.; she did not answer. A second call also went unanswered. Report-only.
10:37 PM
Additional call
An additional call was made at 10:37 p.m. Report-only.
10:51 PM
Arrives at Rachel's Beallsville home with body
Royce drove Heintz's Jeep, with her body in the rear hatch, to Rachel Moser's Beallsville home, arriving around 10:51 p.m. and remaining about half an hour. Report-only.
11:12 PM
Incriminating Google searches begin
Google searches recovered from Royce's phone begin around 11:12 p.m.: 'What removes fingerprints from objects?', 'How long do Ring Cameras store video?', 'What does God say about murder?', 'What if a demon controlled you and murdered someone?', and whether an 18-year-old could receive the death…
11:30 PM
Mother and son drive to California in two vehicles
After the cleanup the pair left in separate vehicles - Rachel leading in a Volkswagen Jetta, Royce following in Heintz's Jeep. Surveillance footage showed both wearing gloves. Time approximate; before the vehicle was abandoned and found just after midnight. Report-only.
11:45 PM
Jeep abandoned near California Area Public Library
They left the Jeep near the California Area Public Library with Heintz's body still in the rear hatch, remained less than two minutes, then Royce got into the Jetta with his mother and they drove away. Time approximate; before the just-after-midnight welfare call. Report-only.
12:05 AM
Officer Guffey finds the body (news estimate)
Per testimony, Officer Guffey approached the Jeep, checked the area, then looked through a window into the rear hatch and could be heard screaming before calling for backup - he had found Heintz. News places this 'shortly after' the just-after-midnight call. NOTE the discrepancy: the released BWC…
12:24 AM
BWC recording begins; Guffey searches the library lot
The released body-camera recording opens mid-response: Officer Guffey sweeps a dark grassy area and parking lot at the California Area Public Library with a flashlight. Video-relative t0.
12:25 AM
Radios for EMS - unconscious female in the vehicle
At the rear hatch Guffey urgently radios: 'I need EMS here right now... I got unconscious female in the back of this car right now.' The recorded discovery moment. Strong hook.
12:27 AM
Notes glass and pooling blood on the pavement
Flashlight shows shattered glass and dark fluid on the asphalt around the Jeep. Guffey: 'Yeah, that ain't good, bro... I don't wanna touch it.' Blood visible in frame.
12:28 AM
Second officer arrives; perimeter discussion
Officer 2 arrives; the officers discuss securing the perimeter and setting up crime-scene tape, and call for PSP and county detectives.
12:33 AM
Fire and EMS arrive
A fire engine and ambulance pull into the lot with emergency lights.
12:34 AM
Briefs Fire Chief: found dead in the hatch, blood everywhere
Guffey briefs arriving fire command: he got a call for a missing girl, found her non-responsive, 'in the trunk,' 'most likely DOA,' 'there's blood everywhere.' Load-bearing on-camera confirmation of the fatality.
12:40 AM
Investigator takes notes at the scene
An investigator writes on a notepad while conferring with Guffey; officers spell out the victim's name and confirm vehicle registration.
12:44 AM
Guffey recounts the discovery: 'looked in the trunk, that's when I saw her'
Guffey recounts the sequence to other officers: he had someone come over, questioned whether the fluid was makeup or wine, circled the back, checked the bumper, then 'looked in the trunk, that's when I saw her.' He identifies himself as Officer Guffey, badge 78, and describes breaking two windows.
1:00 AM
Arrives at station; greets the father, walks him to an interview room
Guffey parks, greets the father on the sidewalk ('Jared? Nice to meet you. I'm Officer Guffey.'), walks him inside and directs him to an interview room to wait for detectives. Recording ends at ~00:37:27 media time.
1:44 AM
Mosers pass the scene again but don't stop
Surveillance/LPR evidence showed the Mosers approached the area where the Jeep was found around 1:44 a.m. but did not stop; police and emergency vehicles were already on scene. The DA declined to speculate why. Report-only.
1:45 AM
Last Google search
The recovered Google searches continued into the early morning and the last occurred around 1:45 a.m. Report-only.
12:00 PM
PSP files charges against both Mosers
Pennsylvania State Police Troop B Major Case Team announced charges against Royce Moser (criminal homicide + tampering, abuse of corpse, conspiracy, obstruction) and Rachel Moser (hindering apprehension + tampering, abuse of corpse, conspiracy, obstruction). Royce's arrest date is listed as…
9:00 AM
Preliminary hearing; both held for trial
At separate preliminary hearings, Magisterial District Judge Charles A. Tenny Jr. held both Mosers for trial on all charges. Six witnesses and 38+ pieces of evidence were presented; DA Jason Walsh personally presented the case. The DA added a criminal-use-of-communication-facility charge against…
12:00 AM
Formal arraignment scheduled
Royce Moser's next action is Formal Arraignment set for 10/13/2026 in Courtroom 7; both defendants are due back in court in October. Date-only.
Scene maps
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