NORFOLK, Va. — Prosecutors at a military hearing on Thursday revealed disturbing details in the case of Culinary Specialist Seaman Jermiah T. Copeland, who is charged with the murder of 21-year-old Angelina Resendiz at Naval Station Norfolk.
Resendiz went missing from her barracks room on May 29, 2025. Nearly two weeks later, her body was discovered in a wooded area of Norfolk’s Broad Creek neighborhood, about 10 miles from the base. Though her official cause of death remains undetermined, charging documents connect Copeland directly to her disappearance and death.
Copeland, who has been in pre-trial confinement since June 10, is facing multiple charges, including premeditated murder, sexual assault, domestic violence, false statements, obstruction of justice, and the wrongful distribution of intimate images. Prosecutors said some of these charges involve at least three additional victims dating back to July 2024.
Timeline of the Night Resendiz Disappeared
At Thursday’s Article 32 hearing—the military equivalent of a preliminary hearing—trial counsel presented evidence outlining the hours before Resendiz vanished:
- On the night of May 28, Resendiz was at Copeland’s barracks. Friends later received a troubling text from her, followed by a 2:14 a.m. call in which she pleaded for help.
- When a male friend arrived to pick her up, he was unable to find her.
- Health data from Resendiz’s Apple Watch showed her heart rate spiked shortly before 3 a.m. Her phone died just before 5 a.m.
Prosecutors allege Copeland killed Resendiz that night and staged her body in his room the next morning. Witnesses reportedly saw him lying next to a woman wrapped in a blanket, later believed to be Resendiz.
Days later, Copeland allegedly borrowed a Jeep, researched wooded areas on his phone, and drove to Broad Creek, where Resendiz’s body was later found stuffed inside a black duffel bag. Investigators say her blood was discovered in Copeland’s barracks stairwell, closet, and along the duffel bag drag marks.
Defense Response Pending
The defense team did not present arguments at Thursday’s hearing. They have until September 23 to respond. The trial counsel submitted 55 articles of evidence, asserting that Copeland’s actions were premeditated, especially since he was already under investigation in multiple other misconduct cases.
Family Demands Accountability
Resendiz, who served aboard the USS James E. Williams, is being remembered as a bright young sailor with a promising future. Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, criticized the Navy for what she described as systemic failures and a lack of transparency.
“I just know this cannot keep happening,” Castle said. “How many more people? How many more lives? How many more women, how many more men? How much more tragedy do we need before we all just take a look and say, ‘Hey, something is not right.’”
The Navy has stated it followed proper protocols and that NCIS continues to investigate.
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