Shocking Update On Missing Fort Leonard Wood Soldier Found Dead

U.S. Army Fort Leonard Wood officials confirmed a soldier’s death after she was reported missing for not showing up to duty on Monday.

“It is with a heavy heart that we inform the Fort Leonard Wood community that our missing Soldier, Sergeant Sarah Roque, 23, has been found deceased,” a press release read.

Roque, from Ligonier, Indiana, served as a bridge crewmember and Mine Dog Handler with the K9 Detachment, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 5th Engineer Battalion in the Missouri Ozarks.

She enlisted in 2020 and completed Basic Combat Training at Fort Leonard Wood. Throughout her service, she earned the Army Commendation Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal, and Army Service Ribbon.

“The Maneuver Support Center of Excellence and Fort Leonard Wood team is deeply saddened by this devastating loss, and we send our deepest condolences to the family, friends and fellow Soldiers of Sergeant Roque,” Maj. Gen. Christopher Beck, MSCoE and Fort Leonard Wood commanding general, said.

“Sergeant Roque was a daughter, sister, friend and Soldier who chose to serve our country bravely and honorably. Her passing has caused a tremendous void throughout our team, and while there are no words to ease the pain, we continue to provide care, resources and support to those who are affected during this difficult time.”

Newsweek reached out to the Department of the Army Criminal Investigation Division.

Assistant Deputy Director Mark H. Lunardi said, “The circumstances surrounding SGT Roque’s death are currently under investigation by Army CID and as such there are no additional releasable details at this time.”

What is Fort Leonard Wood?

Fort Leonard Wood is a U.S. Army installation located in the Missouri Ozarks. Established in 1940, it primarily serves as a training base for military personnel.

The fort is home to the U.S. Army Engineer School, the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) School, and the Military Police School. It also provides basic and advanced individual training for soldiers.

The fort’s mission is to prepare military personnel for various roles in the armed forces, particularly in engineering, chemical defense, and law enforcement operations. It is one of the largest training centers in the Army.

Another Female Soldier in the Army Found Dead

Roque isn’t the only female soldier in the Army found dead in recent months. Private First-Class Katia Duenas-Aguilar was found dead on May 18 in an apartment near Fort Campbell in Kentucky.

An autopsy reveals someone brutally stabbed a 23-year-old U.S. Army soldier. The Montgomery County Medical Examiner’s Office told Newsweek a sharp object inflicted 55 stab wounds and 13 incised wounds on her. Of those, 39 were on the right side of her neck, 8 on the left, with others found on her upper back, shoulders and scalp.

She entered the Army as an information technology specialist in 2018, according to the Air Assault’s public affairs office.

Duenas-Aguilar had completed basic combat training and advanced individual training at Fort Eisenhower in Georgia prior to reporting to Fort Campbell in 2019.

She was well awarded and commended for her work, according to the Air Assault. Duenas-Aguilar had been honored with two Army Achievement Medals, the Army Good Conduct Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Global War on Terrorism Service Medal and the Army Service Ribbon.

The cause of Sergeant Roque’s death is still under investigation, and the suspect in the Duenas-Aguilar case remains at large. Both cases are ongoing.

Do you have a story Newsweek should be covering? Do you have any questions about this story? Contact LiveNews@newsweek.com