A 21-year-old soldier has been charged with murder in the death of Sgt. Sarah Roque, whose body was discovered in a dumpster at their Missouri base last week.
Special Wooster Rancy, a combat engineer with the 5th Engineer Battalion, is charged with killing the 23-year-old sergeant at Fort Leonard Wood, where they were both stationed, on Oct. 20, the day before Roque was reported missing.
He is also charged with obstruction of justice and is being held in pretrial confinement awaiting a preliminary hearing, according to a statement from Fort Leonard Wood.
Roque was reported missing on Oct. 21 after her family and chain of command were unable to contact her, prompting a massive search on the base, located about 140 miles south of St. Louis.
Her remains were found that evening day in the dumpster near barracks for single soldiers, according to Army officials. On Oct. 24, the base confirmed that a person of interest had been taken into custody.
Officials have not revealed how or why the soldier allegedly killed Roque. The murder remains under investigation by the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Rancy, of North Miami, Florida, joined the Army in 2022 and attended Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood, officials said.
Roque, of Ligonier, Indiana, served as a bridge crew member and a mine dog handler with the K-9 detachment of the 5th Engineer Battalion, base officials said in a news release.
She enlisted in 2020 and attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood. Her awards and decorations included the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, the commanding general of Fort Leonard, said her death leaves a “tremendous void” on his team.
“Sergeant Roque was a daughter, sister, friend and soldier who chose to serve our country bravely and honorably,” Beck said in a news release.
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