Army Sgt. Sarah Roque, 23, with her partner Zorro, a mine detection dog, was assigned to Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., since her enlistment in 2020. Roque was killed at the base on Oct. 20, 2024, and another soldier was charged with murder in her death. (Fort Leonard Wood)

A 21-year-old Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., soldier on Wednesday was charged with murder in the death of a sergeant whose body was found last week in a dumpster near the base barracks, service officials said.

Spc. Wooster Rancy of the 5th Engineer Battalion is also charged with obstructing justice in the death of Sgt. Sarah Roque, a 23-year-old mine detection dog handler with the battalion’s K9 Detachment.

Roque was reported missing when she failed to show for morning formation on Oct. 21 and a search for her began within hours, Special Agent John McCabe, who oversees the Army Criminal Investigation Division in the Midwest, said last week during a news conference about her death. She was found dead later that day.

Within three days, investigators said they had made an arrest but they did not publicly identify Rancy until Thursday when they announced the charges against him.

Rancy is being held in pretrial confinement while he awaits an evidentiary hearing to determine whether the case will move forward to a court-martial, officials said. He is from North Miami, Fla., and enlisted as a combat engineer in 2022.

Army Spc. Wooster Rancy, 21, was charged with murder in the death of Sgt. Sarah Roque, who died at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., on Oct. 20, 2024. (Phelps County Sheriff’s Office)

Roque is from Ligonier, Ind., and enlisted in 2020 to become a combat engineer, according to her obituary. She worked in the 5th Engineer Battalion as a bridge crewmember and boat operator from October 2020 until August 2022. She deployed to Poland as a boat operator with the 74th Multirole Bridge Company.

She reenlisted in 2022 and transferred to work as a mine detection dog handler, according to her obituary. She partnered with a dog named Zorro.

Roque is survived by her parents, three brothers and her grandmother.

Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, commander of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood, said last week that base officials were focused on providing support to those who knew Roque and her family.

“As our team continues to mourn, please know that our focus remains on providing the care, support and resources needed during this difficult time for the unit and most importantly, the family,” he said.

Services for Roque are Friday and Saturday in her hometown.