Two deserters from the US Army are facing charges in New Mexico for the murder and dismemberment of a fellow soldier, originally from West Virginia, with whom they had served at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Matthew McLaughlin, aged 25, was declared missing on July 31. By August 17, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office had detained Rainor Joiner, 23, and David Degroat, 22, who were McLaughlin’s roommates, for questioning.
In a newly surfaced video, Joiner confesses to deputies his actions on July 25, when he shot McLaughlin, dismembered him, and disposed of the remains alongside US Highway 64, according to KOAT.
Joiner explained that he had brought McLaughlin to New Mexico to assist him in overcoming his substance abuse problems. However, McLaughlin continued using drugs and brought strangers into the home he shared with Degroat, another soldier. Joiner also claimed that McLaughlin was spreading rumors about him.
In the interview video, Joiner says that he shot McLaughlin after he said something he didn’t like.
“I really don’t know what the f*** he said,” Joiner told the deputies. “He said something, and I just f****** shot him.”
Although Joiner asserted that the murder was not planned, Degroat’s written statement conflicted with this claim. Degroat recounted attempting to dissuade Joiner from killing McLaughlin numerous times and mentioned that Joiner threatened him if he refused to help.
Court documents say the two men ambushed McLaughlin and then dismembered him over several days.
“[Joiner] acknowledged that he shot the victim first with a rifle and then again with a pistol, and later dismembered him,” stated TCSO Undersheriff Gabriel Ortiz to KOAT. “He showed no remorse, was emotionless, and described to the deputies bluntly what he did without any visible emotions.”
The interview video shows a very unemotional, dispassionate Joiner confessing to murder, and a second video released by police shows him guiding deputies to where the body parts were located, KOB reports.
The sheriff’s office said deputies “recovered several plastic bags just as Joiner described.”
“The bags contained human remains and were turned over to the Office of the Medical Investigator.”
Joiner and Degroat have been charged with first degree murder and “other violent felonies,” the sheriff’s office said.
The sheriff’s office also said that Joiner and Degroat had active warrants from the Army for desertion.
Featured image: Matthew McLaughin/The AWARE Foundation. Inset: Rainor Joiner and David Degroat/Taos County Sheriff’s Office]
