By The New York Times (U.S.) | Created at 2024-10-24 23:20:22 | Updated at 2024-10-25 01:28:52
2 hours ago
U.S.|Army Sergeant’s Body Was Found in a Dumpster at a Missouri Base
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/24/us/army-homicide-fort-leonard-wood.html
A person of interest was taken into custody after Sergeant Sarah Roque, 23, was found dead at Fort Leonard Wood, according to Army officials.
Oct. 24, 2024, 7:20 p.m. ET
The body of a 23-year-old Army sergeant was found in a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri this week, and a person of interest has been taken into custody, Army officials said Thursday.
The soldier, Sergeant Sarah Roque, of Ligonier, Ind., was reported missing on Monday when she did not show up for duty that morning and her unit could not locate her, according to Army investigators.
On Monday evening, her body was found in a dumpster next to single soldier housing, which resembles apartments, Major General Christopher Beck told the press on Thursday. Her death is being investigated as a homicide by the Army Criminal Investigation Division, alongside the F.B.I. and other law enforcement agencies.
Investigators would not disclose any information on the person of interest because of the active investigation, but a special agent with the Army C.I.D., John McCabe, said he does not believe that there is a greater threat to the base or community. The Army is using forensic collection and analysis in the investigation, he added.
Sergeant Roque was a bridge crewmember, an Army group that constructs bridges and rafts to help soldiers over rough terrain and water. She served as a mine dog handler with the K9 detachment, which uses dogs to detect explosives, in the Fifth Engineer Battalion, according to Army officials. Since she enlisted in 2020, she had received several military awards, including the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
General Beck said during the news conference that Sergeant Roque’s family had been in consistent contact with her before she went missing on Monday.
“Sergeant Roque was a daughter, sister, friend and soldier who chose to serve our country bravely and honorably,” General Beck said. “Her passing has caused a tremendous void throughout our team.”
Fort Leonard Wood is a military training installation in central Missouri that trains nearly 80,000 people every year. Sergeant Roque attended basic combat training at the base.
