Penn. Man Charged with Murder of Roommate Whose Body Parts Were Found Scattered in 3 Different Locations

Joshua Moser allegedly admitted to killing David Hittinger by strangling and hitting him with a hammer in his basement

A Pennsylvania man was arrested after his roommate’s body was found dismembered and scattered across three different locations.

Police said David Hittinger’s remains were discovered in a trail, cemetery and quarry in Slatington, according to CBS News.

In a news conference, Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said that some of the body parts were located in garbage bags at Slatington’s Fairview Cemetery, while others were found along the D&L Trail and at a quarry off of Welshtown Road in Washington Township, according to WSYX, an ABC affiliate.

Authorities began to search for Hittinger, 37, after a friend of his called state police to report him missing, CBS News reported. He had not been heard of in an “unusual” amount of time, per Holihan — given that it was his birthday.

The investigation began in the early afternoon of Monday, May 13, though Hittinger had allegedly not been seen by friends or heard from since Saturday, May 11, around 7 p.m. local time, per NBC News.

After some digging, the search led investigators to Hittinger’s roommate, Joshua Moser, and his home, where the victim had recently moved in.

State troopers executed a search warrant at the home and say they found evidence — including hair and a large quantity of blood — that connected Moser, 33, to the victim, according to CBS News and NBC News.

Holihan said the evidence “included a saw, a boxcutter, more evidence of blood, including bloody clothing," CBS News reported.

Investigators also noted that Moser’s basement had been “hastily staged” to conceal the blood, per NBC News.

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Moser was arrested and charged with criminal homicide, abuse of corpse and tampering with/fabricating physical evidence, NBC News reported.

While in police custody, he allegedly admitted to killing Hittinger by strangling him and hitting his head with a hammer in his basement, according to WSYX and NBC News.

Authorities have not yet given an official cause of death or motive for the alleged murder.

Pennsylvania Police did not immediately respond to PEOPLE's request for comment. It was not clear if Moser has legal representation to comment on his behalf.

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