A Navy sailor reported missing from Naval Station Norfolk, Virginia, has been located deceased in a wooded area, with another sailor detained concerning her death, according to military officials.
The body of Seaman Angelina Petra Resendiz, 21, was found on Monday, June 9, in a wooded area in Norfolk’s Broad Creek section. The Norfolk Medical Examiner confirmed her identity on Tuesday, June 10, 2025.
Resendiz was last seen on Thursday, May 29, around 10 a.m. at her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk. She was reported missing on June 3, leading Virginia State Police to issue a critical missing adult alert at the request of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS).
NCIS has confirmed that another Navy sailor is in pretrial confinement in connection with Resendiz’s death. Charges are pending, and the sailor will face trial under the Uniform Code of Military Justice. The identity of the detained sailor has not been disclosed.
Resendiz served as a culinary specialist aboard the USS James E. Williams, an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer stationed at Naval Station Norfolk. She joined the ship in February 2024 after enlisting in the Navy in August 2023.
The search for Resendiz involved collaboration among multiple agencies, including NCIS, Navy leadership, the Norfolk Police Department, the Virginia State Police, Virginia Search and Rescue, and other federal and local law enforcement agencies.
Her mother, Esmerelda Castle, traveled from Harlingen, Texas, to Norfolk on June 5 to assist in the search. At her daughter’s barracks, Castle found personal belongings undisturbed, including a running fan, food, and a yoga mat, noting that there had been no financial activity from Resendiz’s accounts since May 29.
Castle expressed dissatisfaction with the Navy’s response, stating that her daughter’s friends were aware of her disappearance but received minimal support. According to Castle, after friends reported her missing, the response from authorities was inadequate, which she believes contributed to her daughter’s death.
The family described Resendiz’s disappearance as unusual, with Castle noting her daughter’s routine communication with family, including a continuous 400-day Snapchat streak with her sister. Castle commented, “She just stopped existing Thursday.”
Before her disappearance, Resendiz did not drive or have access to a vehicle. Her family emphasized her dedication to the Navy and her role as a culinary specialist, making her absence a significant concern.
The body was found approximately nine miles from the naval base during the search. Norfolk Police aided NCIS in responding to the discovery of the body in the wooded area. The Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office performed an autopsy as part of the identification process.
NCIS stressed its dedication to uncovering the circumstances of Resendiz’s death to ensure appropriate action and justice. The agency reiterated its ongoing commitment to the investigation, which began after the sailor was reported missing.
A GoFundMe campaign was set up to support Castle during the search, raising over $14,000. Castle planned a protest advocating for military reforms in handling missing women cases, criticizing the Navy’s search efforts despite available technology.
The family released a statement describing Resendiz as a caring and committed individual, whose absence has caused significant grief among those who knew her.
Naval Surface Forces, responsible for the Navy’s destroyers, confirmed their cooperation with the NCIS investigation, stating their priority remains the safety and welfare of all sailors.
