Charges sought in death of Ft. Leonard Wood soldier
Army officials have recommended charges in the death of a Ft. Leonard Wood soldier who was found deceased in a dumpster earlier this month.
FT. LEONARD WOOD, Mo. - Army officials have recommended charges in the death of a Ft. Leonard Wood soldier who was found deceased in a dumpster earlier this month.
Sgt. Sarah Roque, a soldier who was reported missing from the U.S. Army’s Fort Leonard Wood facility in Missouri on October 21, was found deceased one day later.
The Army Office of Special Trial Counsel has preferred charges against Specialist Wooster Rancy, 21, with the 5th Engineer Battalion, according to a news release Thursday from the U.S. Army at Fort Leonard Wood.
Army officials say the general nature of the charges is for murder and obstructing justice in violation of the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
With Army officials "preferring" charges, Rancy has not yet been formally been charged by a prosecuting attorney's office, though represent allegations in relation to Roque's death and a recommendation for filing charges.
Rancy is currently being held in pretrial confinement awaiting a preliminary hearing, according to Army officials.
Officials say Rancy is from Miami, Florida, and serves as a combat engineer with the 509th Clearance Company, 5th Engineer Battalion. He joined the Army in 2022.
Roque was 23 years old and also a member of the 5th Engineer Battalion.
The Army's Department of Criminal Investigation Division continues to investigate Roque's death as a homicide.
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