Murder trial for Fort Leonard Wood soldier begins

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A U.S. Army specialist who is charged with murder in the 2024 death of a soldier at Fort Leonard Wood had his trial begin on Tuesday.

Spc. Wooster Rancy, with the 5th Engineer Battalion, is charged with murder and obstruction of justice in the death of Sgt. Sarah Roque.

Jury selection began on Tuesday instead of Monday because of weather, according to an email from U.S. Army Office of Special Trial Counsel spokeswoman Michelle McCaskill. The trial is being held at the Pulaski County Courthouse in Waynesville. The trial is scheduled to run through Friday, Feb. 13.

Rancy is from North Miami, Florida, and is a combat engineer with the 509th Clearance Company. He joined the Army in 2022, according to the base.

Military officials have said that Roque's body was found in a dumpster next to base housing after she did not show up for duty, previous reporting shows.