U.S Navy Member Sentenced To 44 Years In Prison For Murder Of 21-Year Old Female Sailor

A U.S. Navy sailor was sentenced to 44 years in prison after pleading guilty at a general court-martial for the murder of a fellow service member, the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) announced on Tuesday.

Culinary Specialist Seaman Jermiah Copeland admitted to the unpremeditated murder of 21-year-old Culinary Specialist Seaman Angelina Petra Resendiz.

Copeland strangled Resendiz to death inside a barracks building at Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, after an argument.

According to testimonies, Resendiz was last seen at her barracks in Miller Hall on May 29, 2025, and was reported missing shortly after.

NCIS Agents discovered her body in a wooded area in Norfolk, two weeks later, on June 9, 2025.

After a preliminary investigation, Copeland was placed in pretrial confinement and was charged on August 22 with premeditated murder.

Special Agent in Charge Emily Schmid of the Norfolk Field Office stated that Copeland should be held fully accountable for his heinous actions.

Apart from his sentence, Copeland will receive a dishonourable discharge, forfeit all pay and allowances, and be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

This is not the first time Copeland has faced serious allegations. He had a history of violence and sexual abuse since he enlisted in the U.S Navy on July 13, 2023.

Copeland was previously accused of committing abusive sexual contact and aggravated assault through strangulation during the summer of 2024 while aboard the USS Harry S. Truman.

Additionally, he also faced two separate charges of sexual assault while deployed onboard the USS James E. Williams, in November 2024, and the other in May 2025, along with two counts of domestic violence in 2025.

The victim’s family displayed extraordinary grace throughout the trial, and as part of the plea agreement, Resendiz’s mother, Esmerelda Castle, requested to meet with Copeland.

Her attorney, Marshall Griffin, expressed astonishment at Castle’s compassion.

During the meeting, she offered to forgive Copeland for taking her daughter’s life and challenged him to become a better human being.

On Tuesday, Copeland apologised to the victim’s family in court and requested to speak to Castle for one last time.

Castle hugged him and repeated her wish for him to change. Copeland promised her that he would do so and vowed to get help for himself.