‘Not A Hard Decision’: Alleged Army Deserters Charged With First-Degree Murder In Roommate’s Death

Authorities charged two suspected military deserters with first-degree murder for allegedly killing their roommate who went missing last month, according to a sheriff’s office.

Rainor Joiner and David Degroat face charges of murdering U.S. Army veteran Matthew McLaughlin, the Taos County Sheriff’s Office (TCSO) said in a press release. Joiner allegedly instructed Degroat to lure McLaughlin into an ambush organized by the former, according to a confession by Degroat to the TCSO obtained by KRQE News. Joiner allegedly shot McLaughlin in the chest using an AR-style rifle and then fired twice into his head.

TCSO Undersheriff Gabriel Ortiz called the incident a “shock,” KOB4 reported. “It was kind of a shock you know, you start working these kind[s] of cases and have a gut feeling in the way that the case is leading, but you never expect the way this kind of unfolded,” Ortiz explained.

Degroat allegedly confessed to working with Joiner to dismember McLaughlin’s body, according to KRQE News. Joiner admitted to scattering his body parts along U.S. Highway 64 near Tres Piedras, according to the TCSO. Evidence, including bloody clothing believed to have belonged to McLaughlin, was allegedly found at the scene of his death. Authorities found multiple trash bags along U.S. Highway 64 containing body parts, Ortiz said.

Authorities suspect Joiner and Degroat, who both have active arrest warrants for deserting the U.S. Army, deliberately planned to kill McLaughlin, according to a criminal complaint. Joiner was allegedly mad at McLaughlin for “speaking ill of him, bringing random people to the residence, and the use of narcotics at the residence.”

Degroat allegedly told authorities that Joiner had previously said he wanted to kill McLaughlin but Degroat convinced him not to. Joiner allegedly also confessed to the murder. He claimed he gave McLaughlin the opportunity to “fix the issues … but Matthew [McLaughlin] failed to correct the issue,” which made killing him “not a hard decision,” according to the confession. (RELATED: Coast Guard Rescues Four Girls Marooned On Little Island)

Joiner allegedly said, “I did it, I f–king him, and I don’t f–king regret it,” according to court documents obtained by KOB4.

McLaughlin had moved to New Mexico from Virginia earlier in 2025, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. He was last observed back on July 26.

Besides first-degree murder, the pair face multiple felony charges, including conspiracy to commit murder, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon and aggravated battery, according to the Santa Fe New Mexican.