Soldier Charged in Connection with Murder of Female Sergeant Found in Dumpster
The body of Sgt. Sarah Roque was discovered in a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood Army base in Missouri, leading to the arrest of Army Specialist Wooster Rancy, 21, who has been charged with murder and obstruction of justice, the Washington Post reports.
The announcement came during a news conference on Friday.
Sgt. Roque, 23, from Ligonier, Indiana, served as a bridge crew member and dog handler within a K-9 unit. After enlisting in 2020, she completed her training at Fort Leonard Wood, where she earned numerous medals and awards throughout her military career. In a statement, Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, the commanding general of the base, emphasized that the priority is providing support to Roque’s family and her unit as the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division continues its investigation into her death.
Roque was reported missing on October 21, prompting officials at Fort Leonard Wood to coordinate with local law enforcement in search efforts. Her body was located the following day, and preliminary investigations suggest she was killed on October 20.
Rancy, who joined the Army in 2022 and serves as a combat engineer, is currently being held in pretrial confinement as he awaits a preliminary hearing. The investigation remains active, according to the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.
