Person of interest detained in Fort Leonard Wood soldier’s murder

[CRAIG NIGRELLI]

ARMY OFFICIALS HAVE DETAINED A PERSON OF INTEREST IN THE SUSPECTED MURDER OF FORT LEONARD WOOD SOLDIER SGT. SARAH ROQUE, WHO WAS FOUND DEAD EARLIER THIS WEEK.

ROQUE WAS REPORTED MISSING ON MONDAY AFTER FAILING TO REPORT FOR DUTY. LATER THAT DAY, HER BODY WAS DISCOVERED IN A DUMPSTER NEAR SINGLE SOLDIER HOUSING ON THE MISSOURI BASE.

THE ARMY CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION, IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FBI, IS INVESTIGATING HER DEATH AS A HOMICIDE. OFFICIALS HAVE NOT RELEASED DETAILS ON THE PERSON OF INTEREST OR POTENTIAL MOTIVES, CITING THE ONGOING INVESTIGATION. THE CID HAS CONFIRMED THERE IS NO BROADER THREAT TO THE COMMUNITY, WITH FORENSIC ANALYSIS PLAYING A CENTRAL ROLE IN THE INQUIRY.

ROQUE ENLISTED IN 2020 AND SERVED AS A MINE DOG HANDLER WITH THE FIFTH ENGINEER BATTALION, SPECIALIZING IN DETECTING EXPLOSIVES. SHE HAD BEEN AWARDED SEVERAL HONORS, INCLUDING THE ARMY COMMENDATION MEDAL AND GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL.

MAJOR GENERAL CHRISTOPHER BECK PRAISED HER DEDICATION, CALLING HER A DEVOTED DAUGHTER, SISTER, FRIEND, AND SOLDIER WHO SERVED WITH COURAGE AND COMMITMENT.

FORT LEONARD WOOD, A PRIMARY ARMY TRAINING FACILITY IN CENTRAL MISSOURI, TRAINS APPROXIMATELY 80,000 PERSONNEL ANNUALLY.

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