The U.S. Army charged a soldier Wednesday with murdering a sergeant in the Missouri Ozarks.
The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel charged Specialist Wooster Rancy, 21, of North Miami, Florida with the murder of Sergeant Sarah Roque, 23, of Ligonier, Indiana, a Thursday statement from the Fort Leonard Wood Army base revealed. Rancy is also accused of obstructing justice. He has been charged according to Articles 118 and 131b the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Army authorities declared Roque missing Oct. 21, found her dead the next day and announced the arrest of a person of interest Oct. 24. Roque was last seen in the precincts of the army base when she went missing, Fort Leonard Wood’s Directorate of Emergency Service said.
Investigators found Roque’s body in a dumpster at the base, The Washington Post reported. (RELATED: Army Sergeant Sentenced To Life In Prison For Murdering Fellow Soldier)
Roque was in the 5th Engineer Battalion with Rancy, according to Fort Leonard Wood. Roque joined the army in 2020 while Rancy did in 2022.
As an army specialist, Rancy ranks just below Roque — who, as a sergeant, was a noncommissioned officer and in the mid-level ranks.
It was not immediately clear if any relationship existed between the accused and the deceased.
The base and its capacity-building center, the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence (MSCoE), was “deeply saddened by this devastating loss,” Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, commanding general of MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood, said.
Beck offered the Army’s “deepest condolences” to Roque’s loved ones and colleagues.
“Sergeant Roque was a daughter, sister, friend and Soldier who chose to serve our country bravely and honorably. Her passing has caused a tremendous void throughout our team, and while there are no words to ease the pain, we continue to provide care, resources and support to those who are affected during this difficult time,” Beck continued, according to Fort Leonard Wood.
Roque, a bridge crewmember and mine detection dog handler, received the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon in her four-year army career, among other decorations and awards.
Rancy, a combat engineer, is in pretrial detention prior to a preliminary hearing. The Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division is investigating the case. Officials will provide updates as they become available.
This article was originally published at dailycaller.com
