A Navy sailor has been sentenced to 44 years in prison for the murder of a fellow servicemember, capping a case that raised questions about missed warning signs. Petty Officer Jermiah Copeland pleaded guilty to unpremeditated murder and related charges in the death of Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz, according to a Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) news release. The sentencing occurred at a general court-martial, where Copeland admitted to strangling Resendiz on May 29, 2025, inside his barracks room at Naval Station Norfolk. Copeland, previously assigned to the USS James E. Williams, will also receive a dishonorable discharge, forfeit all pay and allowances, be reduced in rank to Seaman Apprentice, and be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.
Resendiz, 21, was reported missing after a disagreement with Copeland, who claimed she became upset over something she saw on his phone. Her remains were found nearly two weeks later in a wooded area near Norfolk. The case triggered a 10-day search led by NCIS, which ultimately led to Copeland's arrest. NCIS Special Agent in Charge Emily Schmid stated that Copeland 'deserves to be held fully accountable for his heinous actions.'
This was not Copeland's first allegation of misconduct. He faced prior charges of aggravated sexual contact, abusive sexual contact, and aggravated assault through strangulation for an incident on the USS Harry S. Truman in 2024. Additional charges included two counts of sexual assault for separate incidents while assigned to the USS James E. Williams, one in November 2024 and another in May 2025.