Taos sheriff: Missing Virginia veteran ambushed and killed by Army deserters

The search for a U.S. Army veteran from Virginia who was reported missing near Taos last month took a dark turn over the weekend.

Sheriff Steve Miera told the Journal on Monday that 23-year-old Rainor Joiner and 22-year-old David Degroat, both of Georgia, are in custody facing charges of first-degree murder and other felonies tied to the killing and dismemberment of 25-year-old Matthew McLaughlin, who was reported missing July 31 in Tres Piedras, northwest of Taos.

Joiner faces five other charges: aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, a fourth-degree felony; aggravated battery resulting in great bodily harm, a third-degree felony; assault with intent to commit a violent felony, also a third-degree felony; conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, a second-degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

In addition to first-degree murder, Degroat is charged with conspiracy to commit murder in the first degree, a second-degree felony; and tampering with evidence, a third-degree felony.

During a search on Sunday of the Tres Piedras home where the three veterans had been residing, Miera said the two men admitted to killing and dismembering the 25-year-old after they were detained for questioning.

"[They] admitted to shooting McLaughlin and dismembering him and disposing of the body parts at several locations along U.S. 64 near Tres Piedras," according to a press release from the sheriff's office. "Joiner led deputies to these areas where they recovered several plastic bags just as Joiner described."

During the search, Joiner and Degroat approached the residence in a white van, according to a statement of probable cause. Deputies found both men were armed with handguns on their hips and detained them before continuing their search.

After initially telling investigators that McLaughlin left the residence of his own accord last month, Joiner asked to speak to deputies again and admitted he had coerced Degroat into helping him kill the 25-year-old and dispose of his body, according to the sheriff's office. Joiner then guided deputies in locating "key pieces of evidence on the property."

Joiner said he had planned the murder after developing a grudge against McLaughlin, whom he said had spoken ill of him.

According to the court record, Joiner told Degroat to lure McLaughlin into an ambush at the property on July 25, when Joiner allegedly shot and killed the 25-year-old before disposing of his body in different locations nearby.

The statement of probable cause states that he had threatened to kill Degroat if the 23-year-old did not assist in McLaughlin's slaying or ever spoke about the alleged murder plot.

Joiner told deputies he had "a normal sense of humanity, and killing Matthew did not bother him," according to the statement of probable cause. While in the Army, however, he said his chain of command had ordered him into behavioral health treatment.

According to his family, McLaughlin had relocated from Virginia to Tres Piedras with the two veterans and his puppy last year after being honorably discharged from the Army.

Miera said his office confirmed that both Joiner and Degroat had active warrants for desertion from the military and had served with McLaughlin at Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia.

Deputy Kevin McCarty, the lead investigator assigned to the case, said his office filed a missing persons report after receiving a phone call July 31 from a coworker and fellow veteran who’d became close with McLaughlin at the Chili Line Depot, a restaurant where they had both worked in Tres Piedras.

McLaughlin's mother, Rebecca McLaughlin, and family, including her daughter-in-law, Kayla McLaughlin, came to Taos this month to look for the missing 25-year-old.

While McCarty said the sheriff's office was initially uncertain as to the nature of McLaughlin's disappearance and was holding off on a more extensive investigation until more information could be gathered, the family told the Journal they’d became suspicious after they were told that Joiner and Degroat "had changed their story so many times."

Kayla McLaughlin informed the Journal of McLaughlin's death Monday morning. She said the family is awaiting further word from investigators.