The sailor’s mother says the court-martial is only one part of accountability.
NORFOLK, Va. — The mother of slain Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz said a 44-year sentence for Jermiah Copeland does not end questions about how the Navy handled her daughter’s disappearance from Naval Station Norfolk.
Copeland pleaded guilty this week to unpremeditated murder and related charges in the May 2025 killing of Resendiz, a 21-year-old culinary specialist assigned to the USS James E. Williams. The sentence brought a formal punishment, but the case continues to focus attention on command response, prior allegations and safety inside military housing.
Resendiz was reported missing after she was last seen at Miller Hall on May 29, 2025. Her body was found June 9, 2025, in a wooded area near Norfolk. Court records and testimony showed Copeland killed her in his barracks room, hid her body and later moved it off base.
Copeland also admitted to making a false official statement, obstruction of justice, aggravated assault by strangulation and indecent recording. Under the plea agreement, he will be dishonorably discharged, lose pay and allowances, be reduced in rank and register as a sex offender after release.
Castle has criticized the Navy’s early handling of the missing-person report, saying her daughter should not have been treated first as absent without official leave. The Navy has denied wrongdoing in its response. The case also prompted congressional questions after lawmakers raised concerns about the timeline and the search.
In court, Copeland apologized to Castle and the Resendiz family. Castle met with him during the proceedings, a rare and emotional moment in a case marked by grief. Her attorney said she offered forgiveness while also demanding deeper change.
Friends and sailors described Resendiz as proud of her Navy work and devoted to cooking. One sailor who served with her said she dreamed of cooking one day for presidents and world leaders.
Copeland’s sentence is subject to the military justice review process. For Resendiz’s family, the next stage is their continued push for records, answers and accountability beyond the courtroom.
Author note: Last updated June 11, 2026.