Navy Sailor Receives 44-year Sentence for Fellow Service Member's Murder

WHO:

Fox News - Petty Officer Jermiah Copeland, Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz, Esmi Castle (Resendiz's mother), NCIS Norfolk Special Agent in Charge Emily Schmid.

The Guardian - Jermiah Copeland, Angelina Resendiz, Esmeralda Castle (Resendiz's mother), Kathy Brown (Copeland's grandmother).

WHAT:

Fox News - Jermiah Copeland was sentenced to 44 years in prison for strangling Angelina Resendiz.

Fox News - Copeland pleaded guilty to unpremeditated murder and related charges.

The Guardian - Copeland admitted to killing Resendiz and also acknowledged assaulting another woman and making illicit recordings.

The Guardian - Copeland was sentenced to 44 years at a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, and must register as a sex offender.

WHERE:

Fox News - The incident occurred inside Copeland's barracks room at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia.

The Guardian - Resendiz's body was found in woods about 10 miles from Naval Station Norfolk.

WHEN:

Fox News - The murder of Angelina Resendiz occurred on May 29, 2025.

The Guardian - Copeland's court proceedings began on a Monday and lasted two days.

WHY:

Fox News - Resendiz became upset over something she saw on Copeland's phone, which led to the altercation.

The Guardian - Esmi Castle believes military leaders missed opportunities to intervene before her daughter's death.

HOW:

Fox News - Copeland strangled Resendiz after a night of drinking and admitted to lying to investigators about her whereabouts.

The Guardian - Copeland used his hands to strangle Resendiz and later concealed her body in his closet before discarding it in the woods.

(UPDATED June 10, 2026 17:58 UTC)

Jermiah Copeland has been sentenced to 44 years in a federal prison in Leavenworth, Kansas, after pleading guilty to the unpremeditated murder of Angelina Resendiz, whom he strangled following a night of drinking. The incident took place in his barracks room at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, and Resendiz's body was later discovered about ten miles away in the woods. In addition to the murder charge, Copeland admitted to assaulting another woman and making illicit recordings, and he is required to register as a sex offender.