### US Soldier Charged with Murder of Fellow Service Member at Fort Leonard Wood

A 21-year-old U.S. Army soldier, Specialist Wooster Rancy, has been formally charged with murder and obstructing justice in connection with the death of Sergeant Sarah Roque. The tragic incident occurred at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, and the charges were announced by the Army office of Special Trial Counsel on Thursday.

Originally from Ligonier, Indiana, 23-year-old Sgt Sarah Roque served as a mine-detecting dog handler. She was reported missing on October 20th, and tragically, her body was discovered two days later in a trash bin on the base. Fort Leonard Wood officials, in response to the discovery, quickly classified her death as a homicide and detained a person of interest by the following Thursday. However, they reassured the community that there was no ongoing threat.

Despite the swift action, Army investigators have been tight-lipped about the specifics of the incident, providing no details on the cause of Roque’s death or any potential motives behind it. Roque enlisted in the Army in 2020 and was a member of the 5th Engineer Battalion. Her service was recognized with several distinctions, including the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and the Army Service Ribbon.

Roque’s death is a part of a concerning trend involving the murder of Hispanic female soldiers in high-profile cases. In May, Katia Dueñas Aguilar was discovered dead at her home near Fort Campbell, Kentucky, having been stabbed nearly 70 times and with traces of a date rape drug in her system. Similarly, Vanessa Guillén was murdered at a military base in Killeen, Texas, after disclosing to her friends and family that she had been sexually harassed on the base. Guillén’s killer, fellow soldier Aaron Robinson, subsequently died by suicide when confronted by police.

As the investigation continues, the Army and the community await further information to understand the full context and implications of these tragic events.