Two military escapees are accused of killing Matthew McLaughlin, a 25-year-old veteran from West Virginia, and disposing of his body along a highway in New Mexico.
The suspects, 23-year-old Razerjoiner and 22-year-old David DeGroat, reportedly confessed to the Terrible crime. They were arrested by the Taos County Sheriff’s Office after McLaughlin was reported missing on July 31.
All three men had been living together in New Mexico after serving in the same unit based in Fort Benning, Georgia.
It’s reported that Joyner had an aggressive arrest warrant for his escape, but it remains unclear when McLaughlin completed his service.
Joyner allegedly expressed his frustrations with McLaughlin, mentioning issues like drug use in their shared residence and the veteran’s complaints regarding his health.
In a signed confession, Joyner claimed that he threatened DeGroat to involve him in the murder. He admitted to shooting McLaughlin, stating, “I did it, I killed him, and I don’t regret it.” He also added that taking McLaughlin’s life wasn’t a hard decision for him.
DeGroat recounted that Joyner forced him to ambush McLaughlin as he returned home with groceries. He claims Joyner shot McLaughlin three times, once in the chest and twice in the head, using an AR-15-style rifle.
Joyner was alleged to have dismembered McLaughlin’s body, putting parts in a plastic bag before disposing of them along Highway 64. After their arrest, he led officers to areas where multiple bags containing body parts were found, which were later sent for examination.
McLaughlin’s family is struggling to understand why two people they once trusted would commit such a heinous act. His mother, Rebecca, expressed her disbelief, stating, “They had planned this for weeks. I’ll never see my son again.”
McLaughlin leaves behind his mother and seven siblings.
Joyner has been charged with multiple felonies, including first-degree murder and aggravated assault, while DeGroat faces similar charges, including conspiracy to commit murder and tampering with evidence.
