Soldier charged with murder after sergeant found dead in dumpster at Missouri base

A soldier stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri has been charged with the murder of a sergeant whose body was found in a dumpster at the base, officials said.

Specialist Wooster Rancy, 21, of the 5th Engineer Battalion is also charged with obstruction of justice in connection with the death of 23-year-old Sgt. Sarah Roque, the army said on Thursday.

Roque, who was killed Oct. 20, was found in a dumpster near individual soldiers' quarters, officials said.

Rancy is being held in custody awaiting a preliminary hearing, officials said.

The relationship, if any, between Rancy and Roque was unclear.

An Army official reached Thursday afternoon declined to answer the question. Attempts to reach Rancy's family were unsuccessful.

Roque's relatives also could not be reached for comment.

Roque was reported missing after she failed to show up for her unit's morning formation on October 21. Her body was found hours later, authorities said.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and commanding general of Fort Leonard Wood, said at a news conference earlier this month that the community at the base was “devastated.”

Beck described Roque as a leader who served with “honor and distinction.”

“This is something we never want, we never want the family or the unit to have to endure this,” he said.

Roque, of Ligonier, Indiana, entered the service in 2020 and was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon, officials said.

She was assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion as a bridge crew member and mine dog handler with the K9 detachment, the Army said.

Rancy, who joined the Army in 2022 and completed basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, is a native of Miami, officials said.

According to the Army, he serves as a combat engineer with the 509th Clearance Company, 5th Engineer Battalion.