Former Army Deserter David Degroat Sentenced to 44 Years for Luring Army Vet Roommate Into Deadly Ambush

Former Army deserter David DeGroat has been jailed for 44 years for luring his Army veteran roommate Matthew McLaughlin into a fatal ambush on a dirt road near their shared home in northern New Mexico.

The 22-year-old admitted a series of charges over the killing of McLaughlin, 25, who had moved from Virginia to live with former soldiers he knew from Fort Benning, Georgia.

DeGroat was sentenced in New Mexico's 8th Judicial District Court after admitting second-degree murder, conspiracy to commit first-degree murder, assault with intent to commit a violent felony and three counts of tampering with evidence. The sentence includes a five-year firearm enhancement and will be followed by two years of parole.

McLaughlin had recently moved from Virginia to Taos County to live with DeGroat and Rainor Joiner, former soldiers who had served alongside him at Fort Benning, Georgia.

David DeGroat Sentenced Over Veteran's Death

Court documents cited by prosecutors alleged that DeGroat lured McLaughlin up a dirt road near their home outside Tres Piedras on 25 July 2025 by asking him to help carry groceries. The property was about 30 miles north-west of Taos.

According to the prosecution account, Joiner then ambushed McLaughlin, firing first with a rifle before using DeGroat's handgun to fire additional shots.

Joiner, 24, is charged with first-degree murder but has not been convicted, and the allegations against him will be decided at trial.

McLaughlin was reported missing on 31 July 2025. Deputies searched the shared home and detained DeGroat and Joiner in August, when authorities also found that both men had active warrants for desertion.

Joiner is charged with dismembering McLaughlin's body and allegedly told deputies that the remains were placed in bags and scattered along US Route 64. He has not been convicted, and the allegations against him will be tested at trial.

Plea Deal Spared DeGroat Potential Life Term

DeGroat's guilty pleas were entered under an agreement that reduced the original first-degree murder charge. The deal meant he avoided a potential life sentence but guaranteed a 44-year prison term.

The agreement covered six offences, including second-degree murder and conspiracy to commit first-degree murder. It also included assault with intent to commit a violent felony and three tampering-with-evidence counts.

McLaughlin's family opposed the plea deal, telling the court that it did not reflect the full impact of his death. Their objections placed the sentencing within a wider dispute over whether the agreement delivered sufficient accountability.

His sister, Kayla McLaughlin, said: 'He cared about them and looked after them, and they betrayed that trust in the worst possible way.' His mother, Becky McLaughlin, asked that he be remembered as more than 'a victim, not some statistic'.

What DeGroat Said to Detectives

In a recorded police interview, DeGroat said he knew Joiner intended to kill McLaughlin but claimed he took part because he feared for his own safety and that of his family. That is DeGroat's account and has not been established as an independent finding.

DeGroat said Joiner had instructed him to bring McLaughlin towards the property and said he feared retaliation if he did not comply. Prosecutors have described Joiner as the driving force behind the killing.

DeGroat apologised to McLaughlin's relatives in court, saying he was haunted by what had happened. Members of his family described a childhood marked by trauma and a broken home during the sentencing hearing.

Rainor Joiner Trial Still Pending

Joiner is due to stand trial in December on the original first-degree murder charge. A conviction could carry a life sentence, although he remains presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

DeGroat's sentencing concludes the proceedings against him, but the prosecution of Joiner remains unresolved. The trial is expected to revisit the circumstances of McLaughlin's death and the allegation that the killing was planned in advance.