Navy sailor in Virginia disappears, search is ongoing
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The search for a missing U.S. Navy sailor in Virginia is ongoing after she has not been seen since last week, police said.
The Virginia State Police issued a "critically missing adult alert" on behalf of the Naval Criminal Investigative Service for Angelina Petra Resendiz, 21, on Tuesday, June 3. Resendiz was last seen on May 29 at 10 a.m. local time at her barracks in Miller Hall at Naval Station Norfolk, according to police.
Resendiz, who was last seen wearing an unknown description of clothing with "no known vehicle," is 5 feet tall, weighs 110 pounds and has black hair and brown eyes, police said.
According to police, Resendiz's disappearance "poses a credible threat to their health and safety as determined by the investigating agency."
Police say father suspected of killing his 3 daughters could be hiding in the wilderness
Navy 'cooperating fully with the investigation'
Resendiz, a Texas native, is a culinary specialist assigned to the USS James E. Williams in Norfolk, the Navy said, per ABC News and WTKR.
The Navy told ABC News in a statement that it is "cooperating fully with the investigation."
"Out of respect for the investigative process, NCIS will not comment further while the investigation remains ongoing," the Naval Criminal Investigative Service said, per the outlet.
USA TODAY contacted the Navy on Friday, June 6, but has not received a response.
'My kid is missing'
Esmeralda Castle, Resendiz's mother, told ABC News that her daughter "does not miss work. Sick, snow, feeling down, she shows up."
"She calls my mother, she calls her brother, her sisters; she has friends—middle school friends she still talks to," Castle said about her daughter, per WTKR.
Castle also said her daughter joined the Navy in 2023 after high school because"she felt it was something that called her," according to ABC News.
While working as a culinary specialist, Castle said Resendiz "thought that one day she might be able to cook for the president and other world leaders. She worked really hard on her ship," ABC News reported.
"She's fun, loving, kind, compassionate, uplifting," Castle added.
Castle told WTKR that she was traveling to Virginia to "find out what (she) can" so she can begin "looking for my kid."
"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," the mother said, per the TV station. "I don't know what's going on."
Jonathan Limehouse covers breaking and trending news for USA TODAY. Reach him at JLimehouse@gannett.com.
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