NORFOLK, Va. — A Navy sailor has been sentenced to 43 years in prison after pleading guilty to the unpremeditated murder of Petty Officer Angelina Resendiz at Naval Station Norfolk.
Jermiah Copeland, now 21, received a sentence of 528 months — or 44 years — with 365 days suspended for time served. He will be 64 when he is released if he serves the full sentence. He will also receive a dishonorable discharge and a reduction in rank.
Copeland admitted he strangled Resendiz to death in his barracks during a night of drinking. He also admitted he lied to NCIS investigators when initially interviewed about her whereabouts, telling them he had brought her back to her room. He later admitted in court he brought her body to a wooded area in the Broad Creek section of Norfolk on June 2, 2025. Her body was discovered a week later…