A man has been indicted on murder and arson charges following an incident in which a woman was burned to death on a New York City subway train. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, is accused of setting a sleeping woman on fire and then using a shirt to fan the flames, causing her to become engulfed in the blaze. He allegedly watched from the Coney Island station platform as the incident unfolded.
Authorities are still working to identify the victim, who is believed to have been homeless. Zapeta has been charged with one count of first-degree murder, two counts of second-degree murder, and one count of first-degree arson.
Following a brief hearing where the indictment was announced, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez remarked, “This was a malicious deed. A sleeping, vulnerable woman on our subway system.” He noted that police and medical examiners are utilizing fingerprints and advanced DNA techniques to establish the victim’s identity while retracing her steps leading to the tragedy.
Gonzalez expressed condolences not only for the victim but also for her family, emphasizing that homelessness does not diminish the profound loss experienced by loved ones. “Just because someone appears to have been living in the situation of homelessness does not mean that there’s not going to be family devastated by the tragic way she lost her life.”
Initially, Zapeta was charged with murder and arson in a criminal complaint earlier in the week. Such complaints are typically a preliminary step in the criminal process, as felony cases in New York require grand jury indictments to advance to trial unless the defendant waives this requirement.
Zapeta was not present at the hearing. The most serious charge he faces carries a potential life sentence without parole, and the indictment will be unsealed on January 7. Officials revealed that Zapeta, a Guatemalan national, entered the U.S. illegally after previously being deported in 2018.
He was apprehended last Sunday after three children called 911 upon recognizing him from a police-issued image. During questioning, Zapeta claimed he did not know what happened but acknowledged his identity in photos and videos showing the moment the fire was ignited.
Credit: Sky News
