Death of Army Sgt. Sarah Roque investigated as homicide after body found in dumpster on Missouri base
The Army is investigating the death of a 23-year-old sergeant as a homicide after her body was found inside a dumpster at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri.In an update on Thursday, US Army Fort Leonard Wood announced in a social media post that a person of interest had been taken into custody in relation to the death of Sgt.Sarah Roque.“Sergeant Roque was a daughter, sister, friend and soldier who chose to serve our country bravely and honorably,” Maj.
Gen.Christopher Beck, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, said in a news release.Roque, 23, was first reported missing on Monday after her family and chain of command were unable to contact her.On Tuesday, the base announced that the 23-year-old’s body was found in the dumpster near barracks for single soldiers.
Officials declined to say who found her body or whether there was a suspected cause of death.“It is with a heavy heart that we inform the Fort Leonard Wood community that our missing Soldier, Sergeant Sarah Roque, 23, has been found deceased,” they wrote in a Facebook post.Roque was from Ligonier, Indiana, and served as a bridge crew member and a mine dog handler with the K-9 detachment of the 5th Engineer Battalion, base officials said in a news release. She enlisted in 2020 and attended basic training at Fort Leonard Wood.Her awards and decorations included the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.Beck said her death had caused a “tremendous void” in their team.“The Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood team is deeply saddened by this devastating loss, and we send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fellow Soldiers of Sergeant Roque,” Beck said. “Sergeant Roque was a daughter, sister, friend and soldier who chose to serve our country bravely and honorably,” he said.
“Her passing has caused a tremendous void throughout our team, and while there are no words to ease t...