Official claims Fort Leonard Wood soldier was killed day before she was reported missing

COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A soldier at Fort Leonard Wood who was found dead in a dumpster may have been killed a day before she was reported missing, officials said on Friday.

Spc. Wooster Rancy, 21, with the 5th Engineer Battalion, is suspected of murder in the death of Sgt. Sarah Roque.

During a Friday press conference, officials claimed Roque was killed on Oct. 20, a day before she was reported missing. Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck confirmed during the news conference that they were in the same battalion.

Roque was from Indiana and was a bridge crew member and mine dog handler, according to a social media post from the base.

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.

Rancy has been in military lock up in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, since Wednesday, Army spokesperson Michelle McCaskill wrote in an emailed response to questions on Thursday.