North Miami soldier accused of murdering fellow soldiers at a base in Missouri

FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. – A 21-year-old soldier from South Florida has been charged with murder and obstruction of justice in connection with the death of a fellow soldier at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

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Spc. Wooster Rancy, a combat engineer with the 5th Engineer Battalion, is accused of murdering Sgt. Sarah Roque on October 20th. Her body was found in a dumpster after she disappeared, authorities said.

Rancy, who joined the Army in 2022, is originally from North Miami and completed basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, a news release said.

CNN reports that Roque, 23, went missing from her morning formation at Fort Leonard Wood on October 21, sparking an immediate search.

Her body was found later that evening and three days later authorities took a person of interest into custody.

CNN reports that it is unclear whether there was a relationship between Roque and Rancy and authorities have not revealed a motive for the killing.

Both served in the same battalion.

Roque, originally from Lubbock, Texas, enlisted in 2020, CNN reports. Her family lives in Indiana.

Rancy “is currently in custody awaiting a preliminary hearing” under military law, the Army news release said.

“The Army Criminal Investigation Department continues to investigate,” the authorities said.