The family of Navy sailor Angelina Petra Resendiz, who was discovered dead in Virginia last week, claims they were not informed of her absence and wants someone to be held responsible for her passing.
Virginia State Police said they last saw Angelina on May 29 at her barracks in Norfolk. Her body was discovered by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service on June 9 in a forested location off-base in Norfolk.
A Navy sailor had already been detained in “pretrial confinement” in relation to Angelina’s death, according to an NCIS official.
In a statement, Angelina’s mother, Esmeralda Castle, said, “Angelina was a kind and compassionate young woman who brought light into our lives.”
She also added that her disappearance has left “a void in their hearts” and that they will not allow her suffering to be in vain.
According to Castle, her family first learnt of Angelina’s disappearance informally from her daughter’s employees and media coverage, and they weren’t immediately informed of it.
“Colleagues, friends, and even authorities knew she was missing, but the response was minimal,” Castle stated. “And after her friends filed a missing person’s report when her commander would not, they showed little compassion or understanding.”
In order to ensure that the Navy tells families appropriately and soon in the future rather than depending on “unofficial sources like the media,” Castle wants Congress to look into Angelina’s death.
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“The Navy’s failures threaten all families and the integrity of our military system,” Castle stated. “Congress must reform these processes to prevent future tragedies, for the safety of all families.”
A GoFundMe has been established by Angelina’s family and loved ones to assist Castle with any monetary requirements.
The fundraiser states that “Angie’s mother hopes to search these woods surrounding the base and hopes to have a protest calling for reform of the US Military’s treatment of missing women cases.”
