FORT LEONARD WOOD — A soldier was convicted of murder in February 2026 for the fatal shooting of Army Specialist Sarah Roque. Wooster Rancy, a fellow soldier stationed at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, shot Roque in the head in October 2024. The Army found Roque's body in a dumpster behind the barracks.

Sarah Roque was 23 years old and had served in the Army for just over four years at the time of her death. Ana Roque, Sarah's mother, stated, "Even now, I still can't believe it." She added, "That murderers could exist in one of the supposedly safest places in the country."

Between 2011 and August 2025, at least 41 women in the Army died by homicide. More than half were killed by other service members or veterans. Active-duty Army women face a higher risk of homicide than male soldiers, and over 70 percent of women killed by homicide in the Army had an intimate relationship with the perpetrator. The rate of homicides among women soldiers from intimate partner violence is at least three times higher than the national average.

In addition to the homicides, 128 Army women died by suicide between 2011 and 2024. Suicide is the leading cause of death for Army women. From 2011 to 2024, homicide and suicide rates for women in the Army were double their equivalents for women nationwide. Spc. Mayra Diaz reported an assault at Fort Hood, Texas, where Sgt. Greville Clarke raped her. Diaz stated her attacker blindfolded her, bound her hands, and poured water on her face, describing it as "waterboarding me and causing me to choke." She also said he "then wrapped a cord around my neck in an attempt to kill me." Pvt. Ana Basaldua Ruiz, 20, died by suicide at Fort Hood in March 2023 after reporting sexual harassment.

In September 2025, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth eliminated the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services, which had existed for nearly 75 years. Hegseth ordered a six-month review of women in combat roles in January 2026. He has intervened to block the promotions of women officers. In April 2026, the FBI arrested a woman who had been a whistleblower on sexual harassment within the Army Special Operations community, accusing her of sharing classified information.