The sailor awaiting trial for the murder of fellow U.S. Navy service member Angelina Petra Resendiz allegedly assaulted several other people before taking her life, according to the attorney for Resendiz’s family.

Culinary Specialist Seaman Jermiah Taylor Copeland was charged Aug. 22 with premeditated murder in the death of Resendiz , 21, a fellow culinary specialist seaman, who was reported missing May 29 from Naval Station Norfolk. She was found dead nearby nearly two weeks later.

Copeland faced a Navy Article 32 preliminary hearing Thursday at Norfolk Region Legal Service Command, Virginia, where new facts in the case came to light.

“The government’s [suggested] motive is basically that he was in a lot of trouble and he knew that he had a lot of cases coming,” said Marshal Griffin,

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