NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – NCIS confirmed Tuesday a body found in Norfolk has been identified as missing Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz and said another sailor is currently in pretrial confinement.
According to NCIS, charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice are pending, but they will not release further information while the investigation is ongoing.
Resendiz was initially reported missing May 29, and was last seen in her barracks at Naval Station Norfolk around 10 a.m., according to the Navy.
In a statement released by the Resendiz family on June 10, the confirmation of the remains belonging to Angelina has only strengthened their resolve to hold accountable those responsible for her death.
“Her disappearance has left a void in their hearts, and they refuse to let her suffering be in vain. The family is calling on the assistance of the United States government, Senator Mark Warner, Senator Tim Kaine, the Hampton Roads congressional delegation, home congressman Vicente Gonzalez, and President Donald J. Trump to address the systemic issues that allowed her to vanish without justice since May 29, 2025.”
Statement issued by spokesperson for Resendiz family
The statement further explains there was an oversight that put Angelina’s life at risk, “emphasizing the urgent need to address how official channels failed to notify them promptly and properly, relying instead on unofficial sources like the media, which underscores deep systemic failures.”
Resendiz’s mother, Emeralda Castle, spoke to 10 On Your Side’s Ethan Krauss June 7. At the time, she said she knew something was wrong when her daughter stopped reaching out to family members.
“She talks to somebody every day,” Castle said. “Her and my sister have a 400-day streak on Snapchat, and it all stopped on Thursday. She doesn’t miss work.”
The statement explains that Castle was horrified realizing she was not notified of her daughter’s disappearance through official channels, instead by Resendiz’s staff and the media.
“Her daughter’s colleagues, friends, and even authorities knew she was missing, but the response was minimal, and after her friends filed a missing person’s report when her commander would not, they showed little compassion or understanding.”
Statement issued by spokesperson for Resendiz family
When 10 On Your Side spoke with Resendiz’ mom, she said no one was even looking for her daughter.
“I called the ship and spoke to the officer on deck. He told me that Angie was there, that they found Angie. She was in another room. I was traumatized.”
Castle is calling on Congress to investigate her death, as they have “the power to ‘raise and support armies’ and to ‘provide and maintain a Navy.”‘
“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 Navy’s failures threaten all families and the integrity of our military system, and Congress must reform these processes to prevent future tragedies, for the safety of all families, and for the integrity of our nation.”
Statement issued by spokesperson for Resendiz family
Castle told WAVY that she has an idea who killed her daughter, as Resendiz was with someone the day she was reported missing.
“Monday, the person that she was with that night, that Thursday night, he hadn’t been showing up to work and then he showed up to work Monday and she did not show up for work.”
In a statement released from a NCIS spokesperson, the NCIS has been working the case of Resendiz’s disappearance as soon as they were made aware.
NCIS has worked tirelessly in close coordination with Navy leadership, the Norfolk Police Department, Virginia State Police, Virginia Search and Rescue, and numerous other federal and local law enforcement partners to pursue all leads since learning of Seaman Resendiz’ disappearance. NCIS remains committed to uncovering the facts surrounding the tragic death of Seaman Resendiz to ensure accountability and justice.
NCIS
A GoFundMe was created June 7 to support Resendiz’ family.
