VA ANGELINA RESENDIZ: Missing from Norfolk, VA - 29 May 2025 - Age 21 *Found Deceased*

Woman desperate to find missing daughter last seen at Naval Station Norfolk

Norfolk authorities are actively searching for 21-year-old Angelina Resendiz, last seen at her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk

www.wtkr.com

Woman desperate to find missing daughter last seen at Naval Station Norfolk​

Norfolk authorities are actively searching for 21-year-old Angelina Resendiz, last seen at her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk. Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, expressed deep concern for her daughter, stating that Resendiz's absence is out of character.

"She calls my mother, she calls her brother, her sisters; she has friends—middle school friends she still talks to," Castle said.

Days have passed since Castle last heard from Resendiz, who serves as a culinary specialist at the base. On Tuesday, state police issued a critically missing adult alert for Resendiz, citing credible concerns for her health and safety. The last confirmed sighting of her was at Miller Hall on May 29.

Castle says she's taking matters into her own hands to uncover the circumstances surrounding her daughter’s disappearance.

"My kid is missing, and she wouldn't just unauthorized leave without permission. Angie’s too scared to miss work; she wouldn’t do that. Something is wrong, and I’m going to Virginia tomorrow to find out what I can because I need to start looking for my kid. I don’t know what’s going on," she said.


MEDIA - ANGELINA RESENDIZ: Missing from Norfolk, VA - 29 May 2025 - Age 21 (3 Viewers)

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

What we know about the missing 21-year-old sailor from Naval Station Norfolk

Virginia State Police and the NCIS are still looking for 21-year-old Angelina Petra Resendiz, last seen at her barracks on May 29 at 10 a.m.

www.13newsnow.com

What we know about the missing 21-year-old sailor from Naval Station Norfolk​

A Critically Missing Adult alert is still in effect for a 21-year-old sailor who has not been seen since May 29.

The Navy said Angelina Petra Resendiz is assigned to USS James E. Williams (DDG 95) at Naval Station Norfolk and works as a culinary specialist. She is described as a white/Hispanic female, standing 5'0" tall and weighing 110 lbs., with black hair and brown eyes. The Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) is investigating her disappearance, as well as local authorities.

Both Virginia State Police and the Navy said she was last seen at her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk last Thursday, May 29, around 10 a.m. They are not sure what she may be wearing.

"She’s very kind. She’s very loving," said her mother, Esmeralda Castle, who lives in Texas, where Resendiz grew up.

Resendiz's family describes her as a fun and kind person, who is dedicated to the Navy and her job as a culinary specialist. Her mother says “Angie” never goes a day without talking with her family.

"Her and my sister have a 400-day streak on Snapchat. Every single day she talks to somebody. She talks to family, or she will talk to a friend," said Castle.

But when she didn't hear from her daughter last week and friends said she missed work, Castle knew something wasn’t right. She could not reach Resendiz on the phone, so she reached out to Navy officials.

"She just stopped existing Thursday. She’s spent no money, made no calls. She just stopped. She disappeared," said Castle.

The Navy added that Resendiz enlisted in August 2023, and that she has been at Naval Station Norfolk since last year.

"NCIS and local authorities are actively investigating. The Navy is cooperating fully with the investigation," the Navy wrote in a statement to 13News Now. "Our top priority is the safety and welfare of our Sailors."

A spokesperson with NCIS also provided a statement:

I can confirm that NCIS is conducting an investigation to locate Seaman Angelina Petra Resendiz, who has not been seen or been in contact with her friends or family since May 29. She was last seen on May 29 in her barracks at Miller Hall aboard Naval Station Norfolk. Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS will not comment further while the investigation remains ongoing. Please refer any personnel-related queries to Commander Naval Surface Force Atlantic.

Castle said Resendiz doesn’t drive and does not have a vehicle. She told 13News Now that she is very concerned and just wants her daughter to be found.

"This isn’t like Angie. I just want to find her," she said.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

21-year-old Navy sailor mysteriously goes missing in Virginia

A 21-year-old sailor has mysteriously disappeared in Virginia, leaving her mother desperate for answers.

abcnews.go.com

21-year-old Navy sailor mysteriously goes missing in Virginia​

A 21-year-old Navy sailor has mysteriously disappeared in Virginia, leaving her mother desperate for answers.

Angelina "Angie" Resendiz was last seen on Thursday, May 29, at 10 a.m. at her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk, according to the Virginia State Police.

"This disappearance poses a credible threat to their health and safety as determined by the investigating agency," police said.

Resendiz, a Texas native, is a culinary specialist assigned to the USS James E. Williams, the Navy said.

Resendiz's mother, Esmeralda Castle, insists that her daughter "does not miss work. Sick, snow, feeling down, she shows up."

Resendiz joined the Navy in 2023 after high school "because she felt it was something that called her," Castle wrote to ABC News.

As a culinary specialist, "She thought that one day she might be able to cook for the president and other world leaders," Castle said. "She worked really hard on her ship."

"She’s fun, loving, kind, compassionate, uplifting," she added.

"People that care about Angie shared with me that the last person she was with was missing with her," and "that person showed up Monday but not Angie," Castle said.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Well that last sentence is interesting. Not unusual in many a case.

Praying but not a thing here sounds hopeful.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Texas mother seeks answers in Norfolk amid sailor's mysterious absence

Angelina Resendiz was last seen ten days ago in her barracks at Naval Station Norfolk. Her mother is pleading for answers.

www.13newsnow.com

Texas mother seeks answers in Norfolk amid sailor's mysterious absence​

Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, is calling for more transparency from investigators. She came from Texas to Virginia to aid in the search but says she will soon leave with more questions than answers.

"I don't know how to look for her,” Castle said. “No one is telling me how to or what to do or what I can't do or what I can do or what I should do."
It's been more than a week since anyone last saw or spoke to her daughter.

She says Resendiz spoke to her family every day and was afraid to miss work, so her disappearance is out of character.

NCIS investigators believe her disappearance poses a threat to her health and safety. But Castle says they will not tell her much else, and she is frustrated.

"They won't tell me if they have her phone. They won't tell who the last person is she talked to. They won't tell me where she was last," she told 13News Now.

A NCIS spokesperson say the agency will not comment further out of respect for the investigative process.

Castle says Navy officials should be more transparent with her about the investigation. She believes investigators know more than they are willing to share.

Some friends of Resendiz said the culinary specialist recently felt down about issues, including at work, according to the mother.

Castle said friends recall Resendiz being with another sailor before she went missing, and that a Navy official called her the night of Thursday, May 29, and said he had seen the two sailors together earlier that day.

Castle had called the naval base hours earlier after her daughter's friends contacted her out of concern, and she, too, hadn't heard from the sailor.

"I called the ship, and they told me that she was not missing, and they found her, that she was in another room and that she is fine," Castle said. "I asked them to have her call me.”

"I started calling Angie right away, and she never answered. I called the base the next day, and she didn't come in to work on Friday. So, I called her friends and asked them if they had seen her, and it was her friends who reported it to the (NCIS) investigators."

Castle said an NCIS investigator called her on June 1, and a Critically Missing Adult Alert was issued a few days later on June 3.

"I don't what to think,” her mom said. “I start thinking the worst. I'm trying not to. So, I'm trying not to think and just wait and be patient and keep telling myself they are going to find her. She's going to be OK."

Castle says she spent hours on base speaking with investigators and combed through Resendiz's room.

She's trying to stay positive, but she doesn't know what else to do.

"Her fan was still on, and she had a yoga mat and her little weights, and I saw the receipts she just bought it," she said. "I just want to find her. I don't want to live life without knowing where she's at."

The NCIS says Resendiz could be carrying a black and purple backpack.

 

[GrandmaBear]

They claimed they found her, she was in another room and was fine??? Was this before she went missing or something?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.newsnationnow.com/morninginamerica/missing-virginia-angelina-resendiz-mother/

Mother of missing sailor: Authorities ‘know something’​

Esmeralda Castle is calling for “some kind of transparency” and communication from those investigating the disappearance of her 21-year-old daughter, Angelina Resendiz.

NCIS: Sailor in pretrial confinement as charges pending in death of Angelina Resendiz

An unnamed sailor is set to be charged in the death of Angelina Resendiz.

www.kwtx.com

Former Mexia ISD student missing from Virginia naval station; feds investigating​

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has opened an investigation into the disappearance of for Mexia ISD student Angelina Resendiz.

Resendiz was last seen on board the Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 29. She had been stationed there for two years.

She enlisted in the Navy after she graduated from high school in 2023.

Her friends and family said she loved working in the naval station’s kitchen.

Her mother, Esmerelda Castle, said her disappearance raises questions.

“Angie is too scared to miss work,” Castle said. “She wouldn’t do that. Something is wrong.”

Castle took a trip to Virginia to find answers but returned with little information.

The NCIS declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

 

[Guess Who]

https://www.newsnationnow.com/morninginamerica/missing-virginia-angelina-resendiz-mother/

Mother of missing sailor: Authorities ‘know something’​

Esmeralda Castle is calling for “some kind of transparency” and communication from those investigating the disappearance of her 21-year-old daughter, Angelina Resendiz.

NCIS: Sailor in pretrial confinement as charges pending in death of Angelina Resendiz

An unnamed sailor is set to be charged in the death of Angelina Resendiz.

www.kwtx.com

Former Mexia ISD student missing from Virginia naval station; feds investigating​

The Naval Criminal Investigative Service has opened an investigation into the disappearance of for Mexia ISD student Angelina Resendiz.

Resendiz was last seen on board the Naval Station Norfolk in Norfolk, Virginia, on May 29. She had been stationed there for two years.

She enlisted in the Navy after she graduated from high school in 2023.

Her friends and family said she loved working in the naval station’s kitchen.

Her mother, Esmerelda Castle, said her disappearance raises questions.

“Angie is too scared to miss work,” Castle said. “She wouldn’t do that. Something is wrong.”

Castle took a trip to Virginia to find answers but returned with little information.

The NCIS declined to comment on the ongoing investigation.

The "too scared to miss work" is a bit alarming by itself to me. Scared to miss pay or scared of somebody there and what they would do if she missed?

 

[GrandmaBear]

This used to be my nephew's naval home base and where he had his home. He trled all over but home base was there. Not sure if it is any longer.

The scared to miss work stands out to me too but let's remember this is military, you don't just go missing work or getting time off easily.

Heck the hoops my nephew had to jump through when his dead was dying to go home and help even or see him were many. And he had been enlisted for far many more years.

Someone more newly enlisted is going to want and need to show a good attendance record and create one. It sounds like she was doing so.

It could indicate something more wrong but it may well not either. If her mom was aware of this concern, not sure it indicates much more. I think she's just saying it would be unusual for her not to go to work. Or wanted that clear in the beginning, meaning she'd never choose to go AWOL for instance. Just thoughts.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

'Hopeful for clarity and resolution:' Resendiz family issues statement after NCIS recovers body in Norfolk

A body has been found in Broad Creek Monday evening in Norfolk, police confirmed. The body has not been identified.

www.wtkr.com

'Hopeful for clarity and resolution:' Resendiz family issues statement after NCIS recovers body in Norfolk​

The Naval Criminal Investigation Service (NCIS) and Norfolk Police Department have recovered a body in the Broad Creek area of Norfolk Monday evening, an NCIS official confirmed to News 3.

Officials could be seen after 8 p.m. walking in and out of a wooded area near Richard Bowling Elementary School.

Several neighbors reported seeing officials carrying a body, and just before 9 p.m., several of the official vehicles drove away.

The NCIS official gave the following statement:

I can confirm that NCIS and the Norfolk Police Department have responded to a report of a deceased body found in an off-base wooded area in Norfolk. The Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy and working to positively identify the victim. No arrests have been made and no charges have been filed at this time. Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS will not comment further while the investigation remains ongoing

While speculation at the scene was apparent, local publicist Kimberly Wimbish issued a statement on behalf of the Resendiz family indicating that they are awaiting the results of "DNA testing" for the body.

Angelina Resendiz, a 21-year-old sailor, was last seen at Naval Station Norfolk on May 29. Since then, her family. have been worried sick about this uncharacteristic disappearance.

The statement reads:

The family of Seaman Angelina Resendiz is heartbroken and deeply concerned over her sudden and unexplained disappearance. Angelina is a loving, compassionate, and devoted individual who has always prioritized the well-being of her family and those around her.

Her absence has caused immense grief for all who know and love her. At this time, we are awaiting the results of DNA testing to determine whether recently discovered remains are those of Angelina.

We remain prayerful and hopeful for clarity and resolution. We urge anyone with information about Angelina's whereabouts or the circumstances surrounding her disappearance to come forward. Your help could be crucial in bringing her home and providing answers.

Our family is grateful for the ongoing efforts of law enforcement and investigators. We kindly request privacy as we navigate this incredibly difficult time. Thank you to everyone who has offered support, shared prayers, and stood with us in the search for Angelina.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/remains-confirmed-for-missing-naval-seaman/

Navy sailor in confinement following confirmation of missing Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz remains​

NCIS confirmed Tuesday a body found in Norfolk has been identified as missing Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz and another sailor is currently in pretrial confinement.

NCIS said charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice are pending, but will not release further information while the investigation is ongoing.

 

[GrandmaBear]

So young, 21 and seemingly hard working. Sad.

Yet it's no surprise it was someone from base, we see it all too much. I hope in time if something really wrong was going on as well, they bond somehow with Vanessa Guillen's family who fought FOREVER to not let them sweep her under the rug and bring down some higher ups (although all did not get as deserved imo) but a few did and a lot of noise was finally es. There's a lot wrong yet, and I think a female, especially a young one, is at real risk still and many bad ones remain in place or just get moved at worst. I respect our military but it sure doesn't mean all in there are good by a long shot.

More to come I'd hope, on it. This was actually a fairly quick and perhaps good response, she was found and then an arrest in fairly short order. Hopefully there isn't more to it than one individual and no former pleas for help from her and so on.

 

[Guess Who]

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/remains-confirmed-for-missing-naval-seaman/

Navy sailor in confinement following confirmation of missing Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz remains​

NCIS confirmed Tuesday a body found in Norfolk has been identified as missing Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz and another sailor is currently in pretrial confinement.

NCIS said charges under the Uniform Code of Military Justice are pending, but will not release further information while the investigation is ongoing.

Should we guess that it might very well be the one that told her mother that she was at work that day when she wasn't?

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mother of Navy Sailor Angelina Resendiz believes she was murdered

Questions remain unanswered following the recent recovery of the remains of missing Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz in Norfolk.

www.wtkr.com

Mother of Navy Sailor Angelina Resendiz believes she was murdered​

Many questions remain unanswered following the recent recovery of the remains of missing Navy sailor Angelina Resendiz in Norfolk Monday night.

Resendiz's body was recovered on Monday in a wooded area near Richard Bowling Elementary School. A spokesperson for the family believes she was killed.

Details surrounding how Resendiz ended up in the wooded area and why NCIS is holding another unnamed sailor in pre-trial confinement with charges pending are unclear.


In the meantime, her family is seeking answers and accountability.

Lakeesha Atkinson, a spokesperson for the family, described the emotional toll on Resendiz's mother, Esmerelda Castle, saying there's both grief and frustration.

"Mom — her heart is broken," said Atkinson. "She has lost trust in the government, in the military."

Castle previously spoke with News 3 while she was searching for her daughter.

Family representatives claim Castle was not properly notified about her daughter's disappearance.

"It started flawed because she was notified by friends and then when she made contact, she was told her daughter had been found, and that was not the case," said Michael Muhammad, another spokesperson for the family.

Muhammad added he believes notifications were again improper when Resendiz's remains were positively identified.

The family has filed complaints with lawmakers and compared the case to that of Ashanti Billie, the namesake of the Ashanti Alert.

"We have to figure out how we can still protect those on base and still communicate to families when there is an issue in a timely manner," Atkinson added.

Virginia U.S. Senator Mark Warner (D) said his heart goes out to the family and weighed in:

"I think the family is owed a thorough investigation," Warner said. "I don't know the details but I do think that it is important that we get a thorough investigation of what happened and if there is anyone dropping the ball with the timeliness of letting the family know the sailor had disappeared that needs to be corrected."

 

[GrandmaBear]

There is something really wrong here. You hear your daughter is missing and then get told she's been found, where the heck did the found part come from or was she not dead at that time? Why the heck would they EVER say that if not true?? That all by itself is very suss. And that would then be about the base itself I'd assume and higher ups...

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Former JAG explains what may be going on with Angelina Resendiz case

A former JAG spoke to News 3 to explain what is likely happening with the case involving the death of Norfolk-based sailor, Angelina Resendiz.

www.wtkr.com

Former JAG explains what may be going on with Angelina Resendiz case​

The death of 21-year-old sailor Angelina Resendiz, who was found dead in a Norfolk neighborhood this week, raises many questions. Resendiz vanished from her barracks at Naval Station Norfolk last month, prompting a search that ended in tragedy.

Now, another sailor is in military confinement in connection with her death.


Patrick Korody, a former JAG, is now a criminal defense attorney with two decades of experience in court-martial and criminal defense cases. He said he defends servicemembers of all branches, worldwide though has no connection with the Resendiz case. Korody explained the next steps for the detained sailor. “Within 7 days of being placed in pre-trial confinement, that sailor has the right to a hearing in front of a military judge to determine whether or not he will continue to stay in confinement,” he said.

Korody noted that this hearing is similar to a bond hearing in a civilian court, but he said, “The primary difference is: there is no amount of money that this sailor could get released on. This is not about money.” He says the hearing will evaluate whether a crime occurred, if the sailor being held likely committed that crime, and if he poses a flight risk, among other factors. This process will determine whether charges will be brought against him, which could lead to an Article 32 preliminary hearing—similar to a grand jury hearing.

Investigations are ongoing as NCIS continues to gather evidence. Korody stated, “They are probably searching cell phones, computers, they’re probably sending out subpoenas…”

He added, “Just like a civilian process, the law enforcement, they’re going to continue to investigate. They’re going to collect evidence. They’re going to interview witnesses. They’re going to test any forensic evidence they could have.”

While NCIS has not indicated if the detained sailor has been charged, Korody pointed out a significant aspect of military law in terms of punishment in the case of murder. He said that if Resendiz was murdered, a suspect could face the death penalty, despite Virginia’s abolition of capital punishment. However, Korody considers this unlikely. “Based on what I have seen, and having done dozens of death penalty cases, I don’t think this is a death penalty case,” he added.

The Norfolk Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting an autopsy, according to NCIS.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Lots of questions here . One I am going to pound on is why the family was told after they thought her missing that she was found, alive and with them? With the base, the military, with them.

If that is true, that needs to be explained and THEN what happened.

That's a big red flag as to more imo.

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Mother of Angelina Resendiz appears in court by phone in initial hearing

A sailor remains in pre-trial confinement over Seaman Angelina Resendiz's death but hasn't been formally charged yet. The name of the sailor has not been released.

www.13newsnow.com

Mother of Angelina Resendiz appears in court by phone in initial hearing​

The sailor accused in relation to the disappearance and death of Seaman Angelina Resendiz remains in pre-trial confinement and is expected to stay there through the duration of his case, a lawyer for Resendiz’s family said Monday.

However, the sailor still has not been formally charged, according to an NCIS spokesman.


Castle appeared in a preliminary court hearing by phone on Monday. Family representative Kim Wimbish provided this statement that Castle made to the judge:

"Your Honor,

My name is Esmeralda Castle, and I am the mother of Angelina Petra Resendiz.

I speak to you today as the voice of my daughter—because she no longer has one. Angie was more than a service member. She was a light in this world. She was brave, kind, devoted to her shipmates and her country, and full of promise.

But instead of building her future, I am standing in a courtroom, asking for justice on her behalf.

The person responsible for this horrific loss made deliberate choices that ended Angie’s life. Their actions were not a mistake—they were a betrayal of trust, of duty, and of basic human decency.

To even consider releasing them would add another injustice to an already unbearable tragedy. Offering any form of leniency would not only dishonor Angie’s memory—it would be a threat to public safety and a deep injustice to victims of violent crime.

It would send the message that her life didn’t matter. But it did. It still does.

Angie deserves justice. Our family deserves peace. And our community deserves protection. I am asking this Court to keep this individual confined, because of the severity of what was done—not just to Angie, but to all of us who loved her.

We cannot change the past. But we can choose to prevent further harm. Please, do not let this preventable tragedy be repeated. Let justice stand.

Thank you, Your Honor.”


The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) also issued a lengthy statement on Monday, demanding full transparency and accountability.

"Despite early warnings from Resendiz's colleagues and family, she was initially marked AWOL, not as a missing person. A missing person's alert was not issued until six days later, and the family has reported false reassurances suggesting she had been found alive. Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, led the search herself without meaningful support from the Navy or NCIS. A fellow sailor is now in custody, with charges pending under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)."

 

[SheWhoMustNotBeNamed]

Sailor charged in connection to death of fellow sailor Angelina Resendiz will remain in custody

The sailor facing charges in connection with the death of Seaman Angelina Resendiz will not be released from pretrial confinement, an attorney for Resendiz's mother told WTKR News 3 on Monday.

www.wtkr.com

Sailor charged in connection to death of fellow sailor Angelina Resendiz will remain in custody​

The sailor facing charges in connection with the death of Seaman Angelina Resendiz will not be released from pretrial confinement, an attorney for Resendiz's mother told WTKR News 3 following a hearing Monday.

U.S. Navy investigators have not yet released the sailor's name, what they're charged with, or their connection to Resendiz. They did share that the sailor is assigned to the Norfolk-based USS James E. Williams — the same ship Resendiz, a culinary specialist, was assigned to.

The government now has 120 days to give the sailor an arraignment, where their charges will be formally read in front of a judge.

 

[GrandmaBear]

Mother of Angelina Resendiz appears in court by phone in initial hearing

A sailor remains in pre-trial confinement over Seaman Angelina Resendiz's death but hasn't been formally charged yet. The name of the sailor has not been released.

www.13newsnow.com

Mother of Angelina Resendiz appears in court by phone in initial hearing​

The sailor accused in relation to the disappearance and death of Seaman Angelina Resendiz remains in pre-trial confinement and is expected to stay there through the duration of his case, a lawyer for Resendiz’s family said Monday.

However, the sailor still has not been formally charged, according to an NCIS spokesman.


Castle appeared in a preliminary court hearing by phone on Monday. Family representative Kim Wimbish provided this statement that Castle made to the judge:

"Your Honor,

My name is Esmeralda Castle, and I am the mother of Angelina Petra Resendiz.

I speak to you today as the voice of my daughter—because she no longer has one. Angie was more than a service member. She was a light in this world. She was brave, kind, devoted to her shipmates and her country, and full of promise.

But instead of building her future, I am standing in a courtroom, asking for justice on her behalf.

The person responsible for this horrific loss made deliberate choices that ended Angie’s life. Their actions were not a mistake—they were a betrayal of trust, of duty, and of basic human decency.

To even consider releasing them would add another injustice to an already unbearable tragedy. Offering any form of leniency would not only dishonor Angie’s memory—it would be a threat to public safety and a deep injustice to victims of violent crime.

It would send the message that her life didn’t matter. But it did. It still does.

Angie deserves justice. Our family deserves peace. And our community deserves protection. I am asking this Court to keep this individual confined, because of the severity of what was done—not just to Angie, but to all of us who loved her.

We cannot change the past. But we can choose to prevent further harm. Please, do not let this preventable tragedy be repeated. Let justice stand.

Thank you, Your Honor.”


The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) also issued a lengthy statement on Monday, demanding full transparency and accountability.

"Despite early warnings from Resendiz's colleagues and family, she was initially marked AWOL, not as a missing person. A missing person's alert was not issued until six days later, and the family has reported false reassurances suggesting she had been found alive. Her mother, Esmeralda Castle, led the search herself without meaningful support from the Navy or NCIS. A fellow sailor is now in custody, with charges pending under the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ)."

Thereh it is again in the last paragraph, marked AWOL and mom had been told they found her alive. THAT needs to be explained to both her family AND the public.