On 9 June, search efforts ended when Resendiz’s remains were found off base. The cause and manner of death have not been released, but military authorities classified the case as a homicide.
Progress of the investigation
Individuals familiar with the NCIS probe state that investigative steps—including interviews with family, friends and command personnel—began on 31 May, after the Norfolk Police Department notified NCIS. Those efforts continued until Resendiz’s body was recovered ten days later.
The Navy has declined public comment, citing ongoing legal proceedings. NCIS has likewise withheld further details, saying additional statements could compromise the case.
The accused sailor
Seaman Jeremiah T. Copeland, also a culinary specialist stationed at Norfolk, was placed in pretrial confinement shortly after Resendiz’s death. On 22 August, a military prosecutor charged Copeland with premeditated murder and multiple sexual assault offenses involving several alleged victims. Charging documents list infractions occurring from July 2024 through June 2025.
Additional counts focus on Copeland’s alleged conduct during the search for Resendiz. Prosecutors say he concealed a body on 2 June, hid a mobile phone on 4 June, and gave false statements to NCIS investigators on 1 June and 3 June. Copeland appeared in a Norfolk military courtroom on Wednesday for an Article 32 preliminary hearing. A trial is scheduled for June 2026. His plea, if entered, has not been disclosed, and defense counsel has not commented publicly.
Family’s demand for accountability
Castle contends that a “culture of silence” within the military hampered the initial missing-person response and delayed critical information. She notes that formal confirmation of her daughter’s disappearance came only after external law-enforcement alerts were issued.
Imagem: Internet
“Different emotions—anger, sadness—come in waves,” she said in a recent interview. Castle added that a handful of messages from personnel apologized for earlier lack of communication once her daughter’s body was found.
Turning grief into advocacy
Determined to pursue institutional reforms, Castle announced on 14 October her candidacy for the Democratic nomination in Texas House District 37. She intends to champion measures aimed at protecting service members, particularly women, and at strengthening oversight of how military commands respond to sexual violence and missing-person cases.
Castle also hopes to testify before Congress to advocate for improved safeguards. Her goal, she said, is for her daughter’s death to serve as a catalyst for systemic change within the armed forces.
Resendiz’s relatives emphasize her commitment to service. With close family members in the Army and a father who served in the Marine Corps, the young sailor viewed the Navy as an opportunity to combine military duty with her passion for cooking. She planned to become a professional chef and, according to her mother, regarded enlistment as “a calling.”
Context within broader military efforts
The case emerges amid ongoing scrutiny of how the U.S. military handles sexual assault and violent crime involving service members. A recent Defense Department report outlined current investigative standards and reinforced existing protocols for handling sexual-assault allegations. Additional legislative proposals aim to expand independent oversight of such cases. For background on the department’s policies, see the publicly available Defense Department sexual assault prevention resources.
With the next legal milestone set for mid-2026, Castle says her focus remains on ensuring a thorough prosecution and on advocating for policies that might protect other military families from similar loss.
Crédito da imagem: Esmeralda Castle
