Left: Rainor Joiner (Taos County Adult Detention Center). Center: Matthew McLaughlin (The AWARE Foundation/Facebook). Right: David Degroat (Taos County Adult Detention Center).
Two men from New Mexico are accused of murdering and dismembering a U.S. Army veteran who had served with them at Fort Benning in Georgia. One of the suspects reportedly confessed to the crime, stating, “I did it … and I don’t f—ing regret it,” sources revealed.
Rainor Joiner, 23, and David Degroat, 22, face charges for the murder of their roommate, 25-year-old Matthew McLaughlin, in Taos County. Authorities alleged that the suspects scattered his dismembered remains at “several locations” along US 64 near Tres Piedras.
McLaughlin was initially reported missing on July 31. Authorities, along with a Virginia-based organization, The AWARE Foundation, launched a search as police began investigating the disappearance. McLaughlin was a West Virginian, officials reported.
On August 17, deputies detained Joiner and Degroat for questioning. Investigators discovered that all three men had served at Fort Benning and were living together in New Mexico, as stated in a Taos County Sheriff’s Office press release. The suspects were allegedly deserters with outstanding military warrants at the time of McLaughlin’s disappearance. Police described McLaughlin as an “Army veteran.”
During questioning, Joiner reportedly confessed to shooting McLaughlin. He stated that with Degroat’s help, they dismembered and disposed of the body parts, according to the sheriff’s office. “Joiner led Deputies to these areas where they recovered several plastic bags just as Joiner described,” the press release detailed. “The bags contained human remains and were turned over to the Office of the Medical Investigator.”
Both Joiner and Degroat were promptly taken into custody and charged with first-degree murder and “other violent felonies,” according to police.
Court documents obtained by local NBC affiliate KOB say Joiner allegedly told investigators that McLaughlin was a bad roommate who started rumors about him, was using drugs regularly, and was bringing people to the residence that Joiner and Degroat didn’t know. The two men allegedly ambushed McLaughlin on July 25 and shot him dead, according to the court documents.
“[Joiner] admitted he shot the individual with a rifle and then again with a pistol, then, subsequent days later, he continued to dismember the victim,” TCSO Undersheriff Gabriel Ortiz told local ABC affiliate KOAT. “The individual was very much non-remorseful. No emotions, just a kind of blank face and told them [deputies] exactly what he did and didn’t have any emotions at all.”
Online court records show Joiner and Degroat are both due in court on Sept. 2 for a detention and preliminary hearing. They are being held without bond.
