Family, friends gather to remember Karoline Heintz at candlelight vigil
By Jessica Riley
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MCMURRAY, Pennsylvania (KDKA) — A vigil was held on Sunday evening in remembrance of Karoline Heintz, the 18-year-old college soccer player who authorities say was fatally stabbed by her boyfriend last week.
Dozens gathered at Trinity United Methodist Church in McMurray, Washington County, to remember and honor the recent Peters Township High School graduate and PennWest California freshman with a candlelight vigil.
Several vehicles had already filled the church parking lot more than an hour before the scheduled 6 p.m. start time, and a bus full of Heintz’s teammates from PennWest California also attended the service.
“Karoline had a lot of support from the community. It was really clear there were a lot of people who knew her. It was also very clear that there were a lot of people who were here to support the family and support her,” said Alexandra Brooks, the chief operating officer with Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania.
Heintz’s family is now facing what they call a “parent’s worst nightmare” after police say Heintz was found dead in a vehicle on Thursday morning after allegedly being killed by her boyfriend.
Both the boyfriend, Royce Moser, and his mother, Rachel Moser, who police say helped clean up the body, have been arrested.
Those who knew Karoline say she was so much more than this situation, and they are choosing to remember her as an athlete with a “sweet, beautiful soul.”
“It’s really important that we surround our community with support. We wanted to be here in case anybody needed to talk,” Brooks said at the event.
Another vigil was also planned at the Central Highlands Community United Methodist Church in Elizabeth, Pennsylvania, as communities from across the region come together to honor Heintz’s life and support her family.
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