The man accused of burning a sleeping woman to death inside a New York City subway train has been indicted on murder and arson charges, prosecutors announced Friday, as authorities continue working to identify the victim.
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, is accused by prosecutors of lighting the woman on fire on a stopped F train at Brooklyn’s Coney Island station on Sunday morning. He allegedly fanned the flames with a shirt, causing her to become engulfed before sitting on the platform bench and watching as she burned. “This was a malicious deed. A sleeping, vulnerable woman on our subway system,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said after the indictment was announced.
Zapeta faces multiple murder counts as well as arson. The top charge could result in life imprisonment without parole. The indictment is set to be unsealed on January 7. Zapeta was not present at the hearing, and his attorney declined to comment.
Zapeta, identified by immigration officials as a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, was taken under custody later on Sunday. During police questioning, he claimed ignorance, stating he didn’t know what had happened, though he recognized himself from photos and video surveillance showing the fire being lit. He was initially charged with murder and arson on Monday. Such complaint filings often serve as preliminary steps since New York law requires all felony cases to go through grand jury indictments to proceed to trial.
Gonzalez stated, “Our hearts go out not only to this victim, but we know there’s a family devastated by the tragic way she lost her life.” Efforts are underway to identify the woman using fingerprints and advanced DNA techniques, alongside tracing her movements before the incident.
A Brooklyn address for Zapeta revealed he had connections to a shelter providing housing and substance abuse support. He had been deported once before, according to federal officials, but re-entered the U.S. after his deportation.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams has directed police to work alongside U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s investigative teams to investigate additional federal charges against Zapeta under the arson statute. Gonzalez argues state charges could lead to harsher penalties. “I have confidence... this crime took place... and the people here should serve on the jury,” Gonzalez stated.
The horrifying incident has sparked renewed discussions about safety within the nation’s largest mass transit system. Despite being statistically safer than many public spaces, NYC’s subway system has recently faced multiple violent incidents, which instigates fear among travelers. Police data reveals major crimes decreased this year, yet subway homicides rose to nine reported murders through November, compared to five during the same timeframe last year. This count does not include the woman burned on the train nor another fatal stabbing at a Queens subway station on the same day.
High-profile assaults have left many commuters feeling uneasy. “When you have these incidents, it overshadows the success and it plays on the psyche of New Yorkers,” Adams remarked earlier this week, particularly noting the involvement of individuals with mental health challenges.
The investigation following this indictment will likely yield more insights and details about the incident, contributing to diiscussions about subway crime and safety policies moving forward.
