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

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

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

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

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

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

An Army official declined to answer the question Thursday afternoon. 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, commanding general of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, said at a news conference this month that the community at the base is “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, enlisted 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 is a combat engineer with the 509th Clearance Company, 5th Engineer Battalion.