In a chilling turn of events, Navy sailor Angelina “Angie” Resendiz vanished without a trace from her barracks at Naval Station Norfolk.
Now, weeks later, the mystery has taken a devastating turn — Resendiz has been found dead, and another sailor is in custody.
Angelia “Angie” Resendiz, a 21-year-old Navy sailor, was last seen the morning of May 29 around 10 a.m. at her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk.
Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, was beside herself with worry, knowing deep down that something wasn’t right. “My daughter doesn’t miss work,” she told ABC News. ”Sick, snow, feeling down, she shows up.”
Angie’s mom wasn’t the only one who sensed something was terribly wrong. Authorities quickly realized the situation was serious. “This disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety as determined by the investigating agency,” police warned.
Chilling new development
Then, on Monday, June 9, the search came to a heartbreaking end when a body was discovered in a wooded area in Norfolk. Just one day later, authorities confirmed what Angie’s mother, Esmeralda, had feared most — the remains belonged to her daughter, according to the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.
And now, there’s been a chilling new development in this heartbreaking case.
Another Navy sailor “has been placed in pretrial confinement” in connection with the death of Angie Resendiz, NCIS confirmed. The individual’s name has not yet been released.
“Charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice are pending,” the agency said in a statement. “NCIS remains committed to uncovering the facts surrounding the tragic death of Seaman Resendiz to ensure accountability and justice.”
Originally from Texas, 21-year-old Resendiz served as a culinary specialist aboard the USS James E. Williams, according to the Navy.
Angelia “Angie” Resendiz had big dreams when she joined the Navy in 2023, right after graduating high school. According to her mother, Esmeralda Castle, it wasn’t just a job — it was a calling.
As a culinary specialist, Angie had high hopes for her future. “She thought that one day she might be able to cook for the president and other world leaders,” Castle told ABC News. ”She worked really hard on her ship.”
Angie wasn’t just driven — she was the kind of person who left a mark on everyone she met. “She’s fun, loving, kind, compassionate, uplifting,” her mom added.
But in the days after Angie vanished, disturbing pieces of information began to surface. ”People that care about Angie shared with me that the last person she was with was missing with her,” Castle revealed. ”That person showed up Monday but not Angie.”
A GoFundMe page set up in memory of Angelia “Angie” Resendiz has become both a tribute and a rallying cry. The 21-year-old Navy sailor’s disappearance shocked the nation — and now, her family is pushing for major changes in how the U.S. military handles cases like hers.
Concerns about transparency and urgency
The fundraiser describes Angie’s mother as a woman on a mission, determined to “protest for the reform” of how the military responds when women in uniform go missing.
“Since her disappearance, the United States Navy has been quiet and ambiguous about searching for Angie,” the page reads.
The post also raised serious concerns about transparency and urgency: “With all of the technology at the Navy’s disposal, there is no reason for a sailor to go missing or stay missing. The Naval base is in a wooded area, and NCIS has refused to tell Angie’s mother anything about the search.”
So far, the campaign has raised more than $12,000 to help support the search and bring attention to Angie’s story.
RIP sweet soul. So sorry you had to go through this. Condolences to your family ❤️
