A U.S. soldier has been charged with murder in the death of a U.S. soldier at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, the military announced Thursday.
The Army Special Public Prosecutor’s Office on Wednesday charged 21-year-old specialist Wooster Runcie with murder and obstruction of justice in the death of 23-year-old Sergeant Sarah Roque.
Roque, a native of Ligonier, Indiana, worked as a mine-sniffing dog handler and was reported missing on Oct. 20. Her body was found two days later in a dumpster on the base.
Roque is at least the third female Hispanic soldier to be killed in a high-profile incident since 2020.
Fort Leonard Wood authorities announced last week that they were investigating Mr. Roque’s death as a homicide and had detained a senior official last Thursday. Officials also emphasized that there is no broader threat to base personnel or the community.
But military investigators have released few other details about what happened, including Roque’s cause of death and a possible motive.
Roque enlisted in 2020. Her awards include the Army Commendation Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Army Medal. She is a member of the 5th Engineer Battalion and enlisted in 2020.
Women in the U.S. military are particularly vulnerable to violence because they are typically isolated from family and friends who can support them in times of conflict, according to the Future Without Violence fact sheet.
Most notably, in May, Katia Dueñas Aguilar was found dead in her home outside Fort Campbell, Kentucky, with nearly 70 stab wounds. There were also reportedly traces of date rape drugs in her body.
Meanwhile, Vanessa Guillen was murdered at a military base in Killeen, Texas, after telling friends and family that she had been sexually harassed on the base. Authorities said fellow soldier Aaron Robinson killed Guillén and then killed himself when he confronted police.
Robinson’s girlfriend, Cecily Aguilar, pleaded guilty to one count of aiding and abetting murder and three counts of making false statements and false statements and was sentenced to 30 years in prison in the case.
The Associated Press contributed reporting.
