Army Deserters BUTCHER Fellow Soldier

Soldier in camouflage uniform standing before American flag.

Two Army deserters confessed to murdering and dismembering their former comrade-in-arms, revealing a betrayal so shocking it defies comprehension among those sworn to have each other’s backs.

Story Snapshot

Former Army soldiers Rainor Joiner and David Degroat murdered and dismembered their roommate Matthew McLaughlin, a fellow veteran they served with at Fort Benning
Both suspects had active warrants for desertion when they committed the brutal crime in rural New Mexico
Joiner confessed to shooting McLaughlin and led deputies to the dismembered remains disposed along a highway
The case was cracked within days after a missing person report triggered a swift investigation by Taos County deputies

Brotherhood Turned Deadly

The sacred bond between soldiers shattered in the most horrific way imaginable when Rainor Joiner, 23, and David Degroat, 22, allegedly turned on Matthew McLaughlin, 25, their former Army colleague from Fort Benning, Georgia. What began as three veterans seeking a fresh start together in New Mexico’s high desert ended with McLaughlin’s brutal murder and dismemberment. The crime represents a stunning violation of military brotherhood that has left investigators and the victim’s family struggling to comprehend such betrayal.

McLaughlin had relocated from West Virginia to join his former Army buddies, hoping for a new beginning after their shared military service. Instead, he found himself living with two men who had already abandoned their military duties and would soon cross an unthinkable line. The victim’s trust in his former comrades proved fatal in the most savage way possible.

Desert Confessions and Calculated Disposal

When Taos County deputies filed a missing person report on July 31, 2025, they triggered a chain of events that would quickly unravel the suspects’ attempt to cover their tracks. Within days of obtaining a search warrant for McLaughlin’s home, investigators had detained both roommates and extracted a shocking confession from Joiner. The primary suspect not only admitted to the murder but led deputies directly to where they had dumped McLaughlin’s dismembered remains along a remote highway.

The speed of the confession suggests either overwhelming guilt or the recognition that their hastily executed cover-up had already failed. Degroat’s claim that he acted under duress from Joiner paints a picture of a dominant perpetrator and a reluctant accomplice, though both face identical first-degree murder charges. The calculated nature of the dismemberment and disposal shows a level of premeditation that makes this crime particularly chilling.

Military Desertion Meets Civilian Justice

The suspects’ status as Army deserters adds another disturbing layer to this case. Both Joiner and Degroat had active warrants for abandoning their posts at Fort Benning when they committed this heinous crime. Their flight from military responsibility preceded their ultimate flight from basic human decency. This pattern suggests a complete breakdown of the discipline and honor that military service is supposed to instill.

Army Criminal Investigation Division’s involvement reflects the military’s continued interest in tracking down deserters, even as this case has moved far beyond simple failure to report for duty. The intersection of military desertion and civilian murder prosecution creates complex jurisdictional questions that will likely follow these suspects through their legal proceedings. The Army’s $25,000 reward program for information about violent crimes involving military personnel underscores how seriously the service takes such cases.

Justice for a Fallen Comrade

Taos County Undersheriff Gabe Ortiz described the case as shocking and tragic, words that barely capture the magnitude of this betrayal. Friends and family remember McLaughlin as kind and gentle, making his violent death at the hands of trusted companions all the more senseless. The victim sought nothing more than a chance to rebuild his life alongside men he believed he could trust with that life.

The swift resolution of this case demonstrates effective police work, but it cannot restore what was lost or heal the trauma inflicted on McLaughlin’s loved ones. As both suspects await trial without bond, the military and veteran communities must grapple with how such a fundamental violation of brotherhood could occur among those who once wore the same uniform. This case serves as a stark reminder that the uniform alone does not guarantee honor, and that some betrayals cut deeper than any enemy action ever could.