A Navy sailor confessed to strangling 21-year-old Angelina Resendiz inside his barracks room. Her mother, Esmi Castle, expressed that the confession brought some relief while raising questions about potential preventive measures that could have been taken by military leaders.
Resendiz was found dead in a wooded area in Norfolk, close to Naval Station Norfolk, in June 2025. Castle shared with Fox News Digital that the sailor’s admission answered lingering questions regarding her daughter’s death. However, she believes the tragedy might have been averted.
Jeremiah Copeland pleaded guilty during a general court-martial for the unpremeditated murder of Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Resendiz. He also admitted to making a false statement, aggravated assault regarding another victim, and indecent recording concerning a third victim. Copeland openly acknowledged that he killed Resendiz on May 29, 2025, by strangling her, although the medical examiner had declared the cause of death undetermined.
Esmi Castle reflected on the clarity gained, saying, “Now that I know, I don’t have to think about it anymore”. Despite this, she criticized the Navy for not addressing previous allegations against Copeland, suggesting this inaction allowed the situation to escalate to her daughter’s murder.
Castle noted that Copeland faced accusations involving several other women, which should have led to more decisive actions. Court documents and previous reports confirmed the presence of allegations concerning other women, although not all resulted in guilty pleas.
Before her murder, Resendiz was committed to advancing her career in the Navy. She aspired to join the elite culinary competition team and hoped to eventually cook for significant global leaders. Castle described her daughter as ambitious and hardworking.
Following her daughter’s death, Castle emerged as a vocal advocate for victims of military sexual violence. She argues that service members frequently lack effective pathways to seek accountability outside the military justice system. Castle’s mission includes creating avenues for victims to pursue claims in civilian courts, asserting that many cases are mishandled within military ranks.
Castle recently visited Washington, D.C., to lobby for military sexual violence and accountability reforms. She stated that she has encountered families from various military branches whose experiences reinforce her belief in the widespread nature of the issue.
Addressing Copeland, Castle shared her hope that Copeland uses his time in prison to reform his life. She doesn’t harbor hatred and expressed gratitude for his honesty during the proceedings.
Fox News Digital reached out to the U.S. Navy for comments regarding the situation.