Esmeralda Cantu-Castle
By RAY QUIROGA
publisher@sbnewspaper.com
The League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) Council 22347 – Juan Rivera Sr. & Veterans, based in San Benito, is hosting Esmeralda Cantu-Castle, the mother of slain US Navy Seaman Angelina “Angie” Petra Resendiz, as the chapter’s guest speaker on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025.
The talk will commence at 6:30 p.m. during the organization’s regularly scheduled meeting held at 29267 Resaca Drive, San Benito. Interested parties are asked to RSVP by email at eliascantujr@gmail.com.
On October 13, Cantu-Castle announced her candidacy for the Texas House of Representatives District 37 seat.
Running as a Democrat, she aims to represent most of Cameron and all of Willacy counties in the Rio Grande Valley. Republican, San Benito native, and former San Benito CISD School Board Trustee Janie Lopez currently holds the seat.
Cantu-Castle said that she decided to run because she felt “called to do so” following her daughter’s death.
Representatives from the Resaca City LULAC chapter traveled to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints on Price Rd. on a hot summer Friday afternoon in support of the family of the fallen seaman during her burial.
“We’re here today to support the family in their loss,” said Elias Cantu, Communications Director for LULAC Council 22347 during the service. “We’re here as a council, from the council from San Benito, and we’re here with the Weslaco council as well, knowing that the family met with LULAC National Leadership and President Roman Palomares earlier in Washington DC demanding a thorough investigation into what happened.”
Resendiz’s body was recovered on June 9, 2025, a week after she went missing from a naval base in Norfolk, Virginia. A male suspect, identified as Jeremiah Copeland, has been charged with her murder.
The body of the Norfolk-based sailor who was found dead in the woods near her base was returned to her family in shocking condition, her mother told the media during an earlier press conference.
The Culinary Specialist, age 21, was discovered by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, or NCIS, after being reported missing May 29 from her barracks in Miller Hall on Naval Station, Norfolk. She was assigned to the Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer James E. Williams.
Resendiz’s family is asking for further investigation into what they perceive as systemic failures that resulted in a delay from the time she went missing to the time her mother was notified of her daughter’s disappearance. Castle also said that her daughter knew her alleged killer and previously reported him to her superiors.
San Benito Commissioner, Tom Goodman, who’s coincidentally a member of the church and assisted during the funeral services, said that Resendiz’s body was returned to the family in “horrible” condition. “She was basically placed in the coffin in a body bag,” Goodman said at the time.
“When they opened the bag for me and I saw her body, you know, she was covered, she was infested with maggots and with bugs, and decaying,” Cantu-Castle said earlier during a press conference with the heads of LULAC in Washington, DC. “They didn’t preserve her body or prepare her to come home.”
Castle courageously spoke during her daughter’s funeral, saying that she’s drawing strength from her faith and that she genuinely believes that her daughter has transcended this existence and is “sitting alongside the Lord,” further describing her daughter as “a light to those who knew her.”
Bob Farmer, 1st Counselor of the Treasure Hills Bishopric who presided during the service, recognized several dignitaries or their representatives in attendance, including Ana Garcia, Regional Director for U.S. Senator John Cornyn’s Office in Harlingen; Patrick Roberts, District Deputy Director for the Office of Representative Monica De La Cruz; Brenda Bossom Watson, representing State Senator Adam Hinojosa; and a representative for U.S. Senator Ted Cruz’s office, as well as several area dignitaries, including Cameron County Judge Eddie Trevino Jr. and Cameron County Sheriff Manuel Trevino.
Struggling to hold back tears, an emotional Farmer concluded the service by urging public servants to hold themselves accountable to Resendiz’s memory and her family by helping deliver justice and answers, and by making sure that similar incidents don’t happen again, adding, “You work for us.”
Resendiz was honored with full military honors, including a 21-gun salute and an honor guard presentation of the American Flag to her mother after the ceremony.
Cantu-Castle, who stayed remarkably composed during the service, was overwhelmed with grief when presented with the flag, leaning on Goodman for support while holding onto it.
1 comment
Putting her daughter’s murder front and center as the reason why she is running is not a good enough reason to run, much less vote for her. I would like to know what she has done for the armed services / veteran community prior to her daughter’s murder? And that fact that she’s running as a Democrat is more than enough for me to say NO THANK YOU. As a Veteran myself.. I’ve seen first hand how Democrats have placed illegals and criminals ahead of our military. Sorry for her loss, but it shouldn’t be used as a crutch.