Soldier charged with murder in sergeant’s Missouri death

A soldier has been charged with murder in the death of a fellow service member at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, the Army announced Thursday.

The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel charged the 21-year-old Spc. Wooster Rancy on Wednesday with murder and obstructing justice in the death of Sgt. Sarah Roque, 23. Roque — who was from Ligonier, Indiana, and worked as a mine-detecting dog handler — was reported missing Oct. 20. Her body was discovered in a trash bin on the base two days later.

Fort Leonard Wood officials said last week that they were investigating Roque’s death as a homicide and that they had taken a person of interest into custody last Thursday. Officials also stressed that there was no broader threat to base personnel or the community.

But Army investigators have released few other details about what happened, including the cause of Roque’s death or a possible motive.

Officials said the suspect is from North Miami, Florida, and joined the Army in 2022. He serves as a combat engineer with the 509th Clearance Company, 5th Engineer Battalion, and conducted basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood. He is being held in pretrial confinement and is awaiting a preliminary hearing. 

Roque enlisted in 2020. Her awards and decorations include the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon. She was a member of the 5th Engineer Battalion and enlisted in 2020.