Graphic Warning: This story contains graphic descriptions that may be disturbing. Discretion is advised.
(NewsNation) — Virginia officials have ruled that Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz’s cause and manner of death are “undetermined.”
Resendez, 21, was found dead June 9, more than a week after she disappeared from her barracks at Naval Station Norfolk.
One of her fellow sailors, Jeremiah Copeland, was detained “on suspicion” in the case, the attorney representing Resendiz’s mother confirmed to NewsNation.
The Naval Criminal Investigative Service said a suspect was in pretrial confinement and that charges were pending but has released little information in the case since.
A suspect can be held for up to 120 days before arraignment, per military justice rules, though it’s unclear if Copeland remains detained.
Resendiz family: ‘Closure cannot come’ until details determined
In a statement to NewsNation local affiliate WAVY, a spokesperson for the Resendiz family said “closure cannot come” until the circumstances of her death are revealed.
“Given the condition of her body, we understand why this conclusion was reached by the medical examiner. However, this does not change the fact that Angie lost her life and was found in a wooded area under circumstances that remain deeply troubling,” the statement reads.
“We cannot accept this as the end of the story,” the statement continued. “Angie’s life mattered. She was a beloved daughter, sister, and sailor who proudly served her country.”
Resendiz’s mother, Esmeralda Castle, has publicly called for more accountability surrounding her daughter’s disappearance, death and the investigation into both.