‘This is absolutely tragic’: Death of Peters Township grad, PennWest Cal student, spurs fundraising efforts and sparks conversation on teen dating violence
The tragic death of 18-year-old Karoline Heintz, a recent Peters Township graduate and incoming freshman at PennWest California, has led to fundraising campaigns for domestic violence prevention programs in her name, and has sparked a conversation about teen dating violence.
Megan Hegedus, CEO of Domestic Violence Services of Southwestern Pennsylvania (DVSSP), a nonprofit that provides a 24/7 helpline and prevention and outreach services, said in a statement, “Our hearts are with Karoline’s family, friends, teammates, and everyone mourning the loss of a young woman who was just beginning a new chapter in her life.”
Pennsylvania State Police said that Heintz was fatally stabbed in her vehicle Wednesday by her boyfriend, Royce Moser, a North Strabane resident. Moser’s mother, Rachel Moser, then allegedly helped him clean the crime scene and abandon Heintz’s vehicle near California Area Public Library. Both have been arrested and face numerous criminal charges.
Heintz’s death has deeply shaken her friends and family and the PennWest California campus community, where she was a member of the soccer team and was set to begin classes on Monday.
In response, the California Athletics department and the California Vulcans women’s soccer team have partnered with BeeGraphix to launch a T-shirt fundraiser benefiting DVSSP. Shirts featuring Heintz’s name and jersey number, 21, are available at stores.inksoft.com/RememberingKaroline/shop/home.
For each shirt sold, $10 will be donated to DVSSP to help fund its programs.
A GoFundMe campaign for a permanent academic scholarship, the Karoline Heintz Memorial Fund, has been launched in Heintz’s honor to support organizations that work to prevent domestic abuse and assist families impacted by it.
“We hope that through these efforts, Karoline’s legacy will provide opportunities for young people in the years ahead while also helping individuals and families affected by domestic violence,” wrote organizers Mark Sperry and Amy Anderson.
The Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC), of which the PennWest Cal women’s soccer team is a member, announced it will observe a moment of silence at all conference athletic events from Aug. 27 through Sept. 3.
PennWest Cal athletic director Dr. Karen Hjerpe said in a statement, “California Athletics is devastated by the tragic loss of our student-athlete Karoline Heintz. Karoline was a bright and kind young woman with so much ahead of her. She will always remain in our hearts. Our deepest condolences are with her family, friends, teammates, coaches and all who knew and loved her.”
The circumstances of Heintz’s death also have highlighted the realities of teen dating violence.
“It’s important to know that this happens more often than I think people realize,” said Hegedus, hours before a candlelight church vigil was scheduled at 6 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church in Peters Township. “We see the impact of domestic violence day in and day out, and this is absolutely tragic.”
Hegedus said it is important to emphasize abuse is never the responsibility of the victim.
“No single lesson, program, teacher, friend, or family member can prevent another person from choosing violence,” said Hegedus.
Leaving an abusive relationship can be one of the most dangerous times for a victim of domestic violence, she said.
Someone considering leaving – or even someone who is unsure about what to do next – can contact DVSSP’s 24/7 helpline to speak with an advocate about their options and develop a safety plan.
She said DVSSP staff works every day to support survivors of domestic violence, but an equally important part of its mission is prevention.
“DVSSP is there for people experiencing domestic violence right now, but we’re actively trying to prevent it from happening in the first place,” she said.
The organization provides programs in school districts throughout Washington, Greene, and Fayette counties to promote healthy relationships. and challenge the attitudes and behaviors that allow violence, abuse, and control to become normalized.
“We talk about respect, boundaries, warning signs, and attitudes and behaviors that allow abuse to become normalized,” said Hegedus. “We do programming for grades K-12, and for younger kids, we’re talking about feelings and emotions, and how to handle them.”
Hegedus said funding for the prevention programs has been cut recently, “But that’s where the rest of us come in.”
“Young people receive messages on relationships from a lot of places – social media, friends, sports. We as a community have a role in preventing (domestic violence). We can all talk to kids about healthy relationships, establishing boundaries, healthy communication, consent, so if they encounter abusive behavior, they know what to do,” she said.
If you or someone you know is involved in an abusive relationship, help is available. The DVSSP’s confidential helpline is 1-800-791-4000 and is available 24/7, 365 days a year.