A 21-year-old Navy sailor from Virginia, who had dreams of one day cooking for the president, was found dead in a wooded area nearly two weeks after she went missing, military officials confirmed.
Navy Seaman Angelina Petra Resendiz, affectionately known as “Angie” to her friends and family, was last seen on the morning of May 29 at Miller Hall Naval Station in Norfolk, Virginia. The Norfolk Medical Examiner confirmed late Tuesday that her body had been discovered in a nearby wooded area.
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The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) announced that a fellow Navy sailor is currently in pretrial confinement in connection with Resendiz’s death. Charges are still pending and will be filed under the Uniform Code of Military Justice.
Resendiz, a Texas native, served as a culinary specialist aboard the U.S.S. James E. Williams. Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, told ABC News during the search that her daughter was reliable and dedicated, never missing work regardless of how she felt.
“It was something that called her,” Castle said about Angie’s choice to enlist. “She dreamed of cooking for the president and world leaders.”
Just a week before Resendiz’s body was found, her mother expressed her heartbreak:
“There are no answers for me. I just want my kid,” she said.
A GoFundMe page set up during the search paid tribute to Angie and stated her mother’s determination to push for reform in the way the U.S. military handles cases involving missing servicewomen.
“With all of the technology at the Navy’s disposal, there is no reason for a sailor to go missing or stay missing,” the page stated, criticizing what it described as limited communication and lack of urgency by military officials.
The campaign raised over $9,000 to assist with the search efforts and future advocacy.
In response to public concern, the NCIS emphasized they had been working tirelessly with various law enforcement partners since Resendiz was reported missing.
“NCIS remains committed to uncovering the facts surrounding the tragic death of Seaman Resendiz to ensure accountability and justice,” the agency said in a statement.
As of now, no additional details have been released.
