Soldier charged with murder after sergeant found dead in dumpster at Missouri base – NBC New York

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

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

Officials said Roque, who was killed on October 20, was found in a garbage container near the only military shelter.

Rancy remains in pretrial confinement awaiting a preliminary hearing, authorities said.

The relationship 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 his unit failed to show up for morning formation on October 21. His body was found hours later, authorities said.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, commander of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and 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 to happen, we never want the family or the unit to have to endure,” he said.

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

He was assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion as a bridge crewman and mine dog handler in the K9 platoon. The army said.

Rancy, who joined the Army in 2022 and attended basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, was from Miami, officials said.

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

NBC News’ Minyvonne Burke and Toby Lyles contributed.

This story first appeared NBCNews.com. More from NBC News: