Navy knew of alleged killer's past before murder, victim's mother says

Graphic Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions that may be disturbing. Discretion is advised.

(NewsNation) — The mother of the U.S. Navy sailor who was found dead in June near a Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia, is speaking out after learning the man accused of killing her daughter had a known history of alleged sexual violence.

Esmeralda Castle attended a closed-door Article 32 hearing last Thursday and told NewsNation's "Banfield" that "several groups" within the Navy were aware of Jeremiah Copeland’s past misconduct.

"There is a pattern, and there is a practice [among] people in the military who have these issues that hurt each other and instead of taking care of it, we move it around because people don't want to get in trouble," Castle told local outlet WTKR after the hearing.

Copeland, a fellow culinary seaman assigned to the same ship as 21-year-old Angelina Resendiz, is in pre-trial confinement and faces a premeditated murder charge.

Resendiz was last seen May 29 at Naval Station Norfolk and reported missing two days later. Her body was found June 9 in a duffel bag, dumped in a wooded area about 10 miles from the base, according to local NewsNation affiliate WAVY in Norfolk, Virginia.

Before Copeland’s Thursday hearing, details surrounding the case were largely unknown, adding to the emotional toll on Resendiz’s family.

What happened to Angelina Resendiz?

According to Navy prosecutors in court last Thursday, Resendiz went to the barracks of Copeland on the evening of May 28.

At around 11:30 p.m. that night, a short profanity-laced message was sent from Resendiz's phone to a friend, stating "f—k you."

Prosecutors believe Resendiz did not write the text and that it was “completely out of character” for her, according to WAVY.

A few hours later, around 2:15 a.m., she made a frantic call to a friend. She seemed to be crying and asked for someone to pick her up from Copeland's barracks. According to the friend, they told Resendiz they would come get her. At that point, a male voice believed to be Copeland's asked when they would arrive.

That phone call is believed to be the last time anyone heard from Resendiz.

Sailors living on the same floor as Copeland told investigators that they saw Resendiz's body on his floor at around 5 a.m. Prosecutors believe she was dead when they saw her, and the sailors reportedly questioned whether she was breathing later that day.

Prosecutors believe that a few days later, on June 1, Copeland borrowed another sailor's Jeep and loaded Resendiz's body into the car in a duffle bag and at around 5 a.m. dumped her in a nearby wooded area.

Copeland held victim's body in closet for multiple days, prosecutors allege

Prosecutors believe that Copeland held the victim in his closet for multiple days before he relocated her body to the wooded area.

Soil samples from Copeland match soil samples found in the wooded area where Resendiz body was found. Additionally, her blood stains were found in the barracks stairwell, Copeland's closet and his carpet. Other evidence, including GPS data and phone records, also provide evidence that link Copeland to the murder.

The medical examiner’s office ruled that Resendiz’s cause and manner of death are “undetermined.”

Charges against Copeland

Copeland is facing a litany of charges in connection with the killing of Resendiz and alleged previous sexual misconduct.

According to WTKR, Copeland faces charges of murder, sexual assault, aggravated assault, sexual misconduct, domestic violence, wrongful broadcast or distribution of an intimate visual image, obstructing justice and making a false official statement.

The murder, making a false official statement and obstruction of justice charges are all reportedly in connection with the Resendiz case.

Suspect had a history of sexual misconduct, prosecutors allege

Prosecutors allege that Copeland has an extensive history of sexual violence against female Naval officers and a civilian dating back to June 2024.

According to the Navy prosecutors’ argument in court Thursday, acquired by WAVY, Copeland is accused of the following past misconduct across two Naval ships:

• July 2024: Jermiah Copeland assaulted and groped a female sailor while he was assigned to USS Harry S. Truman
• November 2024: While Truman was in port at Oslo, Norway, Copeland raped a female sailor in a restroom who was so drunk she didn’t know where she was, recorded the crime and showed it to shipmates
• January: Navy transferred Copeland from Truman to USS James Williams, becomes a shipmate with Angelina Resendiz
• March: Copeland strangled a sailor at his barracks, she survives
• May 25: Four days before Resendiz went missing, Copeland pulls a civilian visiting his barracks into his room, and demands oral and vaginal sex, but other sailors come to her rescue and drive her home.

Castle told NewsNation that the Navy asserts it has "followed procedures" and acted "according to the law." However, the investigation into Resendiz's death has raised significant concerns for her family regarding the Navy's culture and its handling of sexual misconduct allegations.

The prosecution is seeking life in prison without the opportunity of parole for Copeland.

Local NewsNation affiliate WAVY contributed to this report.