FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. — Authorities have apprehended a person of interest in relation to the death of a soldier stationed at Fort Leonard Wood in south-central Missouri. The soldier, identified as Sgt. Sarah Roque, 23, from Ligonier, Indiana, was discovered deceased on Tuesday in a trash bin after being reported missing a day prior. While the specific cause of death has yet to be disclosed, the Department of Army Criminal Investigation Division has classified the case as a homicide investigation.

Sgt. Roque served as a mine dog handler within the 5th Engineer Battalion and had enlisted in 2020. In response to this tragic event, Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, the commanding general of Fort Leonard Wood, remarked that her death “has created a tremendous void” at the Army base, highlighting the impact her loss has on her colleagues and the community.

At this time, military officials have not provided additional details regarding the individual taken into custody or the circumstances surrounding a possible motive behind the incident. The investigation continues as authorities seek to uncover more information surrounding the circumstances of Sgt. Roque’s untimely death.