A 21-year-old Army specialist has been charged with murder after a decorated sergeant was found dead in a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, military officials announced Thursday.
Spc. Wooster Rancy faces murder and obstruction of justice charges in connection with the death of Sgt. Sarah Roque, 23, whose body was discovered near single soldier housing on October 21, hours after she failed to appear for morning formation.
Roque, from Ligonier, Indiana, served as a bridge crewmember and mine dog handler with the K9 detachment of the 5th Engineer Battalion. Since enlisting in 2020, she earned multiple commendations including the Army Commendation Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
“This is something we never want to happen, we never want for the family to have to endure or the unit to have to endure,” said Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, commanding general of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood.
He described Roque as a leader who served with “honor and distinction.”
Rancy, a Miami native who joined the Army in 2022, serves as a combat engineer with the 509th Clearance Company, 5th Engineer Battalion. He remains in pretrial confinement awaiting a preliminary hearing.
Military officials declined to comment on any relationship between Rancy and Roque. The Army has not released details about the circumstances leading to Roque’s death on October 20.