A 23-year-old U.S. Army sergeant was found dead Monday evening on Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri hours after she was reported missing, officials said.
The body of Sgt. Sarah Roque was found inside a dumpster adjacent to single soldier housing, Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, said at a news conference on Thursday.
The Army Criminal Investigation Division (CID) is investigating her death as a potential homicide, pending the cause and manner of death, a spokesperson said. A person of interest was taken into custody on Thursday.
Roque was reported missing after she failed to show up for her unit’s morning formation on Monday, Beck said. The unit notified Army officials and local law enforcement.
“The Fort Leonard Wood community is devastated by this tragic loss. Sarah was a soldier and a leader … described by her peers as tough and proud of everything she did and proud to serve our country, which she did with honor and distinction,” Beck said, calling what happened a “tragedy.”
“This is something we never want to happen, we never want for the family to have to endure or the unit to have to endure,” he continued.
Information about the person of interest, including any potential charging decisions, was not revealed. The Army CID said it cannot provide additional details due to the ongoing nature of the investigation.
Roque, of Ligonier, Indiana, was assigned to the 5th Engineer Battalion as a bridge crewmember and mine dog handler with the K9 detachment, U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood said. She enlisted in 2020 and attended basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood, an Army installation post that trains about 80,000 military and civilians each year.
She received the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.
Roque’s family could not immediately be reached on Friday.
