Fort Leonard Wood soldier Sarah Roque was found dead in a dumpster

The body of a missing U.S. Army sergeant was found this week in a dumpster at a Missouri military base, and a person of interest has been arrested in connection with her murder, officials said.

Sgt. Sarah Roque, 23, went missing Monday after she failed to report for duty at Fort Leonard Wood. wrote in a press release. The base is about 80 miles south of Jefferson City, the state capital.

During a news conference Thursday, Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck said Roque’s body was found in a dumpster on the base next to the soldiers’ housing.

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Rogue’s death is being investigated as a homicide

Officials have not released how Roque was killed, but said her death is being investigated as a homicide by the Army Criminal Investigation Department.

As of Friday, the investigators did not disclose the identity of the detainee, did not say what they were charged with, and whether they were civilians.

It was not immediately known if Rock was single at the time of her death.

“As a commander and a leader, it’s a tragedy,” Beck said. “It’s something we never want to happen, we never want a family to suffer or a unit to suffer.”

Who was US Army Sergeant Sarah Rogue?

A member of the bridge crew, Roque served as a dog handler in the K9 unit of the Fifth Engineer Battalion.

Roque was from Ligonier, Indiana, a town in Perry Township, about 40 miles northwest of Fort Wayne. In 2020, she joined the Army and completed basic combat training at Fort Leonard Wood.

Her awards and decorations include the Army Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal and Army Ribbon.

The army asked to ensure the secrecy of the soldier’s family

“The Maneuver Support Center team and Fort Leonard Wood are deeply saddened by this devastating loss, and we extend our deepest condolences to Sergeant Rock’s family, friends and fellow service members,” Beck said in a statement released Tuesday.

“Roque was a daughter, a sister, a friend and a soldier who chose to serve our country with courage and honor. Her death has left a huge void in our team and while there are no words to ease the pain, we continue to provide help, resources and support to those affected during this difficult time.”

Natalie Neisa Alund is a senior reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at [email protected] and follow her on X @nataliealund.