Navy sailor sentenced to 44 years for strangling fellow servicemember in Virginia barracks room

A Navy sailor who pleaded guilty to strangling a 21-year-old fellow service member inside his barracks room was sentenced Wednesday to 44 years in prison, capping a case that raised questions about missed warning signs.

Petty Officer Jermiah Copeland received the sentence at a general court-martial after pleading guilty to unpremeditated murder and related charges in the death of Culinary Specialist 3rd Class Angelina Resendiz, Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS) said Tuesday in a news release.