TAOS, NM – The serene landscapes of northern New Mexico have been overshadowed by a chilling murder that has left the Taos County Sheriff’s Office in disbelief. The body of a young Army veteran, Matthew McLaughlin, was discovered dismembered along a highway, marking the tragic end to a missing persons case that began in late July.
McLaughlin, 25, was reported missing by his mother, who provided authorities with information about his acquaintances. This led deputies to a residence near Tres Piedras, where McLaughlin had been staying with fellow Army veterans Rainor Joiner, 23, and David DeGroat, 22.
Initially, the two men claimed ignorance about McLaughlin’s whereabouts. However, over the course of the investigation, deputies began uncovering inconsistencies in their stories. As they delved deeper, the grim truth unfolded during a late-night search of the home.
Undersheriff Gabriel Ortiz recounted the moment when one of the suspects unexpectedly confessed, admitting to shooting McLaughlin and, with DeGroat’s assistance, dismembering the body over time. Both men are currently wanted for desertion from the Army.
Joiner guided deputies to multiple sites across Taos County, including the location where McLaughlin was shot while walking home with groceries, less than half a mile from their residence. Evidence was found at the house and two other locations, where deputies discovered trash bags containing body parts along Highway 64.
Ortiz expressed his shock at the gruesome discovery, noting the unprecedented nature of the crime in the area. An autopsy is expected to provide more information about the remains.
With the suspects in custody, the Sheriff’s Office has already engaged the District Attorney’s Office to ensure Joiner and DeGroat remain jailed until trial. Meanwhile, McLaughlin’s family remembers him as a kind-hearted individual who cherished his family and pets.
As the investigation continues, the community is left grappling with the horror of the events and the loss of a beloved son and friend.