Outrage and Heartbreak: Norfolk Sailor’s Body Returned to Texas Infested with Maggots, Family Demands Answers

Outrage and Heartbreak: Norfolk Sailor’s Body Returned to Texas Infested with Maggots, Family Demands Answers

NORFOLK, VA / TEXAS — The grieving family of a young Navy sailor is demanding answers and accountability after a shocking and heartbreaking discovery: their daughter’s body, returned from military custody, arrived infested with maggots and in an advanced state of decay. Now, they say the U.S. Navy has failed them in both life and death.

Angelina Resendiz, a sailor stationed in Norfolk, Virginia, was found dead earlier this month under circumstances that are still being investigated. Her body was eventually returned to her hometown in Texas with full military honors on June 20. But what was supposed to be a dignified and solemn homecoming turned into a nightmare for her family — particularly her mother, Esmeralda Castle.

“I wanted to see her. I didn’t know what to expect,” Castle said through tears during a press conference held Wednesday alongside the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). “Her body was covered in bugs, maggots, she was rotting. They didn’t even try to preserve her. They sent her home in the same state they found her.”

According to Castle, her daughter’s body had been left undiscovered for days before children stumbled upon it. By the time authorities recovered her remains, the damage caused by time and exposure had already set in. Still, the family said they assumed the military would take appropriate steps to properly handle and prepare the body before returning it to them.

That expectation, Castle says, was grossly betrayed.

Legal and Political Scrutiny Mounts

Marshall Griffin, an attorney now representing the Resendiz family, stated that he was stunned to learn the full extent of the situation during the Wednesday press conference. Griffin has already reached out to the U.S. Navy in search of answers regarding the protocols and procedures for handling deceased service members.

“The professionalism of the interaction so far has been less than what I would have expected under circumstances like this,” Griffin said. “My inquiries thus far haven’t yielded any real answers.”

What began as a quiet family tragedy is quickly escalating into a matter of public concern and political outrage.

Senators Mark Warner and Tim Kaine, who both represent Virginia and serve on military oversight committees, expressed deep concern over how the Navy handled the aftermath of Resendiz’s death.

“In that state? I don’t understand it at all,” Warner said. “The family deserves answers.”

Kaine echoed those sentiments, stating, “[Castle] has a real right to be deeply, deeply concerned about this, and I did commit to her as a member of the Armed Services Committee that I’m going to be reaching out.”

LULAC and Community Voices Demand Justice

The League of United Latin American Citizens, one of the oldest and most prominent Latino civil rights organizations in the country, has taken a public stand in support of the Resendiz family.

“This is not just a failure — it’s a disgrace,” one LULAC spokesperson said. “To send this young woman, a proud U.S. Navy sailor, home in this condition is an insult not only to her but to every military family in America.”

A Family’s Grief Turned Advocacy

Angelina Resendiz had dreams, ambition, and a commitment to serve her country. Those who knew her describe her as a kind-hearted and determined young woman, proud to wear the Navy uniform. But now, her family must fight for the basic dignity she was denied in death.

“It hurts more than I can put into words,” said Esmeralda Castle. “I gave my daughter to the Navy. I expected them to take care of her, even in death. But they didn’t. And now I have to live with this image forever.”

The Resendiz family, along with their attorney, is calling for a full investigation into how and why Angelina’s remains were left improperly handled, and whether negligence or systemic failure within the military mortuary process is to blame.

The Path Ahead

With rising public attention, support from civil rights groups, and pressure from high-ranking elected officials, the Navy may soon be compelled to answer questions about how it handles its fallen — especially when it comes to the most basic expectations of dignity, care, and respect.

In the meantime, the Resendiz family is left navigating unimaginable grief, compounded by betrayal and disbelief.

“My daughter served her country,” Castle said. “The least they could do is treat her like she mattered.”

Anyone with information related to the handling of Angelina Resendiz’s remains, or similar cases, is encouraged to contact legal counsel or reach out to congressional offices.