The disappearance and death of 21-year-old U.S. Navy sailor Angelina Petra Resendiz has left her family searching for answers, with investigators still piecing together the final hours of her life. Found in a wooded area near Norfolk in June 2025, her death has been ruled “undetermined” by the Virginia Medical Examiner, a verdict that raises more questions than it answers.
A Promising Life in Service
Resendiz, remembered by her family as compassionate and full of energy, was serving in the Navy when she vanished. Originally from Texas, she had joined the military to build a future rooted in service and opportunity. Her mother described her as “a light” in their lives, someone who lifted spirits wherever she went. That future was suddenly cut short when she failed to return to her command in late May.
The Disappearance
On May 29, 2025, Resendiz was last seen during a wellness check at the barracks of another sailor. According to a Navy memo, she was on authorized liberty that day, with no assigned duties. She was expected to report back the following morning but never appeared. A subsequent wellness check revealed both Resendiz and the unnamed sailor were missing. Ten days later, her body was discovered by NCIS investigators in an off-base wooded area.
The Autopsy and Unsettling Findings
When her body was examined, the Virginia Department of Health’s Chief Medical Examiner ruled both her cause and manner of death as “undetermined.” Her family acknowledged the difficulty of making a determination given the condition of her remains but stressed that the circumstances were “deeply troubling.” They insist closure cannot come until the Navy and investigators provide full accountability for what happened.
A Fellow Sailor in Custody
In July, reports revealed that another sailor, Jermiah Copeland, had been placed in pretrial confinement following an initial hearing at the Naval Consolidated Brig in Chesapeake. While NCIS confirmed his detention in connection with the case, no charges have been publicly disclosed. The lack of transparency has fueled speculation and frustration among Resendiz’s family, who are determined to uncover whether foul play was involved.
A Family’s Pursuit of Answers
Resendiz’s relatives have launched a GoFundMe to support their search for truth, stating they cannot accept the investigation’s current outcome as the final word. Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, said the loss left “a void in their hearts,” but she remains committed to seeking accountability. For now, the unanswered questions surrounding Resendiz’s final hours highlight not just a personal tragedy, but a broader call for clarity in how military deaths are investigated.
