A Pennsylvania man is facing serious charges in connection with the death and dismemberment of his roommate, who was reported missing earlier this month. Joshua Moser, 33, has been charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse, and tampering with evidence following the discovery of David Hittinger’s remains in various locations around Slatington, Pennsylvania.
Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan announced the charges on Friday, May 17, 2023, stating that Hittinger, 37, had not been seen or heard from since the night of May 11. A concerned friend of Hittinger reported him missing on May 13, after he failed to show up for planned birthday celebrations on his behalf.
Authorities began their investigation at Moser’s home, where Hittinger had recently moved in. The search quickly led to the gruesome discovery of dismembered body parts in garbage bags at Fairview Cemetery on May 15. Additional remains were found the following day along the Delaware & Lee Trail and at a quarry near Slatington.
Neighbor Caydence Waterhouse told the local media that she heard a heated argument coming from Moser’s home on May 12. “It was Josh. He said, ‘Get the (expletive) out of here, you don’t belong here,'” Waterhouse recalled. “But I didn’t hear anyone talking back to him.”
Investigators found significant evidence at Moser’s home, including blood, hair, a saw, a box cutter, and bloody clothing. The basement appeared to have been hastily staged to conceal the blood. According to Holihan, Moser admitted to strangling Hittinger and hitting him in the head with a hammer before dismembering the body.
Hittinger’s identity was confirmed through a fingerprint on a dismembered hand. While the autopsy is still ongoing, the medical examiner has determined the manner of death to be a homicide. However, the motive behind the killing remains unclear. Holihan suggested that a disagreement may have led to the fatal encounter.
Moser was initially taken into custody on an unrelated charge in Monroe County but is now being held without bail for the homicide charges. His preliminary hearing is scheduled for later this month.
Holihan emphasized that there is no ongoing threat to the public and that the investigation indicates Moser acted alone. He noted, “There appears to have been some sort of disagreement that would lead to the demise of Mr. Hittinger in such a manner.”
This case has shocked the community of Slatington, a small town in Lehigh County. Friends and neighbors of Hittinger expressed their disbelief and sorrow over the tragic events. “He was very shy,” Waterhouse said, recalling a recent encounter with Hittinger when she returned his dog. “He said, ‘Yeah, that’s my dog, sorry. He was wandering.'”
As the investigation continues, authorities are piecing together the details of this disturbing crime. Moser’s actions and the exact circumstances leading to the fatal disagreement are still being scrutinized.
