Arrest made in alleged murder of female soldier on Army base

Wooster Rancy, 21, is accused in the murder of 23-year-old Sarah Roque.

An Army specialist has been charged with the murder of a fellow soldier whose body was found on an Army base last week.

Spc. Wooster Rancy, 21, is accused in the murder of Sarah Roque, a 23-year-old sergeant, officials said Thursday.

Last week, Roque was found dead in a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.

Rancy also faces obstruction of justice charges, officials said. He is currently in pretrial confinement ahead of a preliminary hearing.

A combat engineer, Rancy is originally from Miami and joined the Army in 2022, officials said.

Sarah Roque, 23

U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood/Facebook

It is not yet clear what led to Rancy's arrest or the motive in the killing.

Roque, of Ligonier, Indiana, was reported missing after she failed to report for duty last week.

In a press conference after her body was found, Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck said her death was being investigated as a homicide.

"As a commander and a leader, this is a tragedy," Beck said. "This is something that we never want to happen, we never want for the family to have to endure, or for the unit to have to endure."

Roque served as a mine dog handler, officials said. Since she enlisted in 2020, she was awarded the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

"Sarah not only served our country bravely and honorably as a soldier, she was also a daughter, a sister and a friend to many," Beck said.