Defendant in murder of Navy Seaman Angelina Resendiz had history of sex/violent crime charges

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) -- After revelations that the case against the defendant in her daughter's death extends nearly a year prior to that, the mother of Angelina Resendiz is demanding change in the Navy's culture and security measures.

Jermiah Copeland, accused in the death of fellow sailor Resendiz, 21, was also recently charged with rape, sexual assault, making false statements, distributing revenge porn and obstruction of justice.

However, it was not revealed until Thursday during Copeland's Article 32 preliminary hearing that these charges involve four other victims in addition to Resendiz.

Copeland's alleged crimes date back to July 2024, according to information discussed in court Thursday. In that case, another alleged victim, also a shipmate of Copeland's, said he strangled her and groped her. Copeland was stationed on USS Harry S. Truman at that time.

At the time of her death, Resendiz and Copeland were both assigned to USS James E. Williams.

The full list of charges Copeland is facing can be found below:

• Charge 1 — Violation of UCMJ, Article 120
  • Specification 1: Aggravated sexual contact
  • Specification 2: Abusive sexual contact
  • Specification 3: Sexual assault - Incapable of consenting
  • Specification 4: Sexual assault - Without consent
• Charge 2 — Violation of UCMJ, Article 128
  • Specification 1: Aggravated assault - Strangulation
• Charge 3 — Violation of UCMJ, Article 117a
  • Specification 1: Wrongful broadcast
• Charge 4 — Violation of UCMJ, Article 120c
  • Specification 1: Indecent recording
  • Specification 2: Indecent broadcasting
• Charge 5 — Violation of UCMJ, Article 131b
  • Specifications 1,2 and 3: Obstruction of justice
• Charge 6 — Violation of UCMJ, Article 128b
  • Specification 1: Domestic violence - Strangulation
  • Specification 2: Domestic violence - Violent offense
• Charge 7 — Violation of UCMJ, Article 107
  • Specifications 1 and 2: False official statement
• Charge 8 — Violation of UCMJ, Article 118
  • Specification: Premeditated murder

Resendiz, who was initially reported to have been last seen around 10 a.m. on May 29, was later found in a wooded area in Norfolk on June 10. The medical examiner's office ruled Resendiz's death "undetermined."

Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, traveled from the family home in Harlingen, Texas for Thursday's hearing and told reporters she did not know about the additional victims — all of whom survived — until now.

"They're still here and they still have to live with this," Castle said. "My baby's gone."

The following is all according to Navy prosecutors' argument in court Thursday:

• July 2024 — Jermiah Copeland assaulted and groped a female sailor while he was assigned to USS Harry S. Truman
• November 2024 — Truman was in port at Oslo Norway, Copeland raped a female sailor in a restroom who was so drunk she didn't know where she was, recorded the crime and showed it to shipmates
• January — Navy transferred Copeland from Truman to USS James Williams, becomes a shipmate with Angelina Resendiz
• March — Copeland strangled a sailor at his barracks, she survives
• May 25 — Four days before Resendiz went missing, Copeland pulls a civilian visiting his barracks into his room, and demands oral and vaginal sex, but other sailors come to her rescue and drive her home.

Resendiz spent May 28 shopping and talking with a friend. That night, Resendiz was in Copeland's room. He's charged with killing her early the next morning.

Prosecutors say a short, strange text with a profanity was sent from Resendiz's phone to a friend, but they believe she did not write or send it herself, and it was "completely out of character" for her.

About 2:15 a.m., Resendiz called a friend who told investigators she was "panicked, saying, 'Come get me.'" The friend then apparently told Resendiz they would come and pick her up. At that point, according to the friend, a male voice came on Resendiz's phone and asked when they would get there. Prosecutors believe that male voice was Copeland.

Sailors living on the same floor told investigators they saw her body on Copeland's floor around 5 a.m. "in a state of undress." Prosecutors believe she was already dead when they saw her, and said in court those sailors were asking each other later that day, "Did we see her breathing?"

The murder case against Copeland includes blood evidence, phone data, GPS coordinates and information from Copeland's smart watch. He is alleged to have borrowed another sailor's Jeep June 1, loaded the body of Resendiz in the Jeep in a wheeled duffle bag, and at about 5 a.m. dumped her in a wooded area near Cary Avenue.

Phone data shows Copeland returned to the Jeep at 5:16 a.m. and then went to a nearby McDonald's. He returned the Jeep to its owner at about 6 a.m.

The prosecution said soil samples taken from his X-2 barracks match soil from the wooded area where Resendiz's body was found. Her blood stains were found in the barracks stairwell, Copeland's closet and his carpet.

Her mother said Copeland's alleged string of crimes prior to her daughter's death shows a complete breakdown of accountability by the Navy.

"Instead of taking care of it, we move it around because people don't want to get in trouble," Castle said. "They don't want to be responsible for what's happening right under their noses."

Copeland is being held in pre-trial confinement. Navy prosecutors have until close-of-business Friday to present their case in writing to Commander John Butler, the hearing official. Copeland's Navy defense attorneys then have until Sept. 23 to respond. They did not present evidence or argument Thursday.

The prosecution wants a general court martial for Copeland and is calling for life in prison without the possibility of parole. He remains in pre-trial confinement.

NOTE: The above video is from previous coverage on Jermiah Copeland's charges in relation to Angelina Resendiz's death.