The heart-wrenching discovery of 21-year-old Navy Seaman Angelina Petra Resendiz’s body in a wooded area of Norfolk, Virginia, has left her family, friends, and community grappling with grief and demanding answers. Resendiz, a culinary specialist assigned to the USS James E. Williams at Naval Station Norfolk, was reported missing on May 29, 2025, after last being seen at her barracks in Miller Hall around 10 a.m. Her disappearance sparked a frantic search involving the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS), Virginia State Police, Norfolk Police Department, and other agencies. On June 9, authorities located a body in the Broad Creek neighborhood, which the Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the following day as Resendiz’s. The tragedy has not only shattered her family but also ignited a call for accountability and reform within the Navy’s notification and response systems.
Resendiz, a Texas native described by her family as a kind, compassionate, and devoted young woman, joined the Navy in 2023 after high school, driven by a sense of purpose and ambition. Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, knew something was amiss when Resendiz, who maintained daily contact with family, abruptly stopped communicating. “She talks to somebody every day,” Castle told reporters, noting a 400-day Snapchat streak with her sister that ended the day Resendiz vanished. The sudden break in her routine, coupled with her absence from work—a rarity for the dedicated sailor—prompted Castle to travel from Texas to Virginia to seek answers.
The family’s anguish deepened upon learning that official notification of Resendiz’s disappearance came not from the Navy but through unofficial channels, including her colleagues and media reports. Castle expressed horror at the lack of formal communication, stating that Resendiz’s commander initially failed to file a missing person’s report, leaving her friends to take action. This oversight, the family argues, reflects systemic failures within the Navy’s protocols for handling missing personnel. In a statement released through their spokesperson, the family called on Congress, Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, Congressman Vicente Gonzalez, and President Donald J. Trump to investigate these lapses and implement reforms to prevent future tragedies. “If the Navy cannot notify families properly and instead relies on unofficial sources, treating such incidents as inconveniences rather than emergencies, then Congress must investigate what has gone wrong,” the statement read. “The Navy’s failures threaten all families and the integrity of our military system.”
Adding to the family’s distress, Castle revealed that Resendiz was last seen with another sailor the night before her disappearance. While that individual reported to work the following Monday, Resendiz did not, raising suspicions. NCIS has since placed a sailor in pretrial confinement in connection with her death, with charges pending under the Uniform Code of Military Justice, the legal framework governing military personnel. The agency has remained tight-lipped about the suspect’s identity and the specifics of the case, citing respect for the ongoing investigation. The cause and manner of Resendiz’s death are still under review by the medical examiner, leaving many questions unanswered.
NCIS emphasized its commitment to uncovering the truth, stating it has worked tirelessly with Navy leadership and local law enforcement to pursue all leads since Resendiz’s disappearance was reported. The agency’s efforts included multiple interviews, DNA sampling, and coordination with Virginia Search and Rescue teams. Despite these assurances, Castle’s frustration with the Navy’s initial response underscores a broader concern about how missing persons cases are handled within the military. She recounted a conversation with an officer who mistakenly claimed Resendiz was found in another room, further eroding trust in the system.
The Resendiz family’s grief has resonated widely, prompting community support through a GoFundMe campaign launched on June 7 to aid search efforts. The outpouring of support reflects the profound impact Resendiz had on those around her. Described as a beacon of light, she aspired to cook for world leaders, a dream that spoke to her dedication and ambition. Her untimely death has left a void, but her family is resolute in seeking justice. They refuse to let her loss be in vain, advocating for systemic changes to ensure no other family endures similar pain.
As the investigation continues, the Navy faces mounting pressure to address the shortcomings laid bare by this tragedy. The call for congressional oversight signals a broader demand for accountability, not only for Resendiz’s death but for the safety and well-being of all service members. For now, her family mourns a vibrant young woman whose life was cut short, holding fast to their resolve to honor her memory through justice and reform.
