A sentence of life in jail with out the potential for parole was handed all the way down to Fort Leonard Wooden Missouri Army Spc. Wooster Rancy within the homicide of Sgt. Sarah Roque in 2024.
Rancy, a 22-year-old fight engineer assigned to the 509th Engineer Firm, fifth Engineer Battalion, thirty sixth Engineer Brigade, was discovered responsible by a navy jury of the premeditated homicide of Roque—who had been discovered shot within the head, positioned in a rubbish bag, and hauled right into a dumpster behind the barracks the place she lived. Particulars of the homicide have been outlined in a information launch despatched by the Army to Army.com.
Wooster discovered his sentence on Friday, Feb. 6, on the Pulaski Courthouse the place his trial ended simply two days earlier. In keeping with the Army, Roque was reported lacking on Oct. 21, 2024, after she did not report back to her unit. A search adopted and her physique was present in a zip-tied rubbish bag in a dumpster. She was shot within the head.
Rancy was recognized as a suspect after mobile phone knowledge confirmed that each Roque and Rancy have been in her condo for about an hour collectively on Oct. 20, 2024, the day earlier than she went lacking.
After her physique was discovered, based on the Army information launch, investigators discovered a bullet lodged in a banana contained in the fridge of Roque’s set up condo. Additionally, a firearm situated in Rancy’s off set up condo was confirmed by way of forensic testing to be the gun linked to the identical bullet.
This case was an vital step in the direction of justice for Sgt. Sarah Roque and her household. – Lt. Col. John Haberland of the Army Workplace of Particular Trial Counsel
“The collaborative work of the Division of the Army Prison Investigation Division, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace for the Western District of Missouri, and the Fort Leonard Wooden Division of Emergency Providers, enhanced by knowledgeable evaluation from the U.S. Army Prison Investigation Laboratory, was important to attaining this end result. Efficient coordination between all businesses is what led to this simply outcome,” Haberland added.
Particulars of the Crime
Investigators discovered proof that Rancy bought heavy-duty trash baggage and zip ties from an area Walmart on the morning of Oct. 20, 2021. Additional investigation revealed Rancy searched on-line for “how lengthy it takes for a rubbish bag to finish up in a landfill” in addition to info concerning Fort Leonard Wooden’s trash pickup schedule.
“This end result was a real crew effort, and I need to thank the Western District of Missouri U.S. Legal professional’s Workplace and our companions on the FBI Springfield Resident Company and the Kansas Metropolis Subject Workplace,” stated Particular Agent in Cost John McCabe of Army CID’s Midcentral Subject Workplace. “This sends a transparent message that Army CID and our justice system is not going to waver within the pursuit of justice.
Whereas no ruling can deliver again Sgt. Sarah Roque or restore what was stolen from her family members, this sentencing brings accountability for this mindless act of violence.
“Whereas no ruling can deliver again Sgt. Sarah Roque or restore what was stolen from her family members, this sentencing brings accountability for this mindless act of violence,” McCabe added.
Sentencing and Rank Demotion
Rancy is from North Miami, Fla., and can serve his jail sentence at the USA Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.
As a consequence of excessive public curiosity and intense media deal with the case, a choice was made to carry Rancy’s trial off-post and in a bigger Pulaski County courtroom.
“We’re additionally grateful for the help from officers with Pulaski County for permitting us to carry the trial at their courthouse and guaranteeing the proceedings went easily,” stated Lt. Col. Haberland.
Added to Rancy’s sentence, a navy choose additionally diminished his rank to E-1—the Army’s entry degree or trainee rank. The choose additionally ordered a complete forfeiture of pay and allowances, in addition to Rancy’s dishonorable discharge.
Rancy additionally obtained sentences for lesser offenses associated to obstructing justice by mendacity to investigators and throwing away Roque’s mobile phone in a dumpster close to his off-post condo.
