A soldier allegedly killed a US Army sergeant and disposed of her body in a dumpster on the military base where they both served.
Specialist Wooster Rancy, 21, of the 5th Engineer Battalion is accused of murdering Sergeant Sarah Roque, 23, whose remains were discovered at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri on October 20.
Roque was reported missing on October 21 and her body was found in a dumpster on site that evening, said Major General Christopher Beck.
Three days later, the base announced that a person of interest was in custody in connection with Roque’s death.
On Wednesday, the Army Office of Special Trial Counsel charged Rancy with murder and obstruction of justice.
Rancy is in pretrial confinement ahead of his preliminary hearing.
Beck said the base is ‘devastated’ by Roque’s death.
‘Unfortunately, the outcome of our efforts was one that we had all hoped and prayed would not happen,’ he said earlier.
‘As our team continues to mourn, please know that our focus remains on providing the care, support and resources needed during this difficult time for the unit and most importantly, the family.’
Roque, of Lubbock, Texas, joined the Army in 2020 and had basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood. She served as a bridge crew member and mine dog handler and won the National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Rancy, of North Miami, Florida, joined the army in 2022 and had basic combat training at the base. Within the battalion, he served as a combat engineer with the 509th Clearance Company.
A probe on the incident is being handled by the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division.
Roque was killed nearly five months after a female American soldier was found murdered and locked inside her apartment off the Army base where she served in Tennessee.
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