Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of burning a sleeping woman alive in a New York City subway has been indicted on charges of murder and arson, authorities confirmed on Friday.
The 33 year old Guatemalan immigrant is alleged to have ignited the flames on a stationary F train at Coney Island station in Brooklyn, before fanning the fire with a shirt. The woman, who was asleep at the time, was engulfed in flames while Zapeta reportedly sat on a platform bench, watching as she burned.
“This was a malicious deed. A sleeping, vulnerable woman on our subway system,” said Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez after the indictment was announced during a brief court hearing.
Zapeta faces multiple murder charges, with the most serious carrying a potential sentence of life imprisonment without parole. The indictment will be made public on January 7, as per news agency AP.
Zapeta, a Guatemalan citizen who entered the US illegally, was arrested on Sunday and later questioned by police. Prosecutors revealed that during his interrogation, he denied knowing what had occurred, despite being identified in photographs and surveillance footage. Authorities have confirmed that Zapeta had a history of alcohol consumption.
Initially charged with murder and arson, Zapeta’s case is now progressing to trial after being indicted by a grand jury, a necessary step for felony cases in New York. Police are also working with medical examiners to identify the victim, using fingerprints and advanced DNA methods.
“Our hearts go out not only to this victim, but we know that there’s a family,” Gonzalez said.
“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.”
The accused has ties to a Brooklyn shelter, which provides housing and substance abuse support, according to police records. Federal immigration authorities revealed that Zapeta was deported in 2018 but re-entered the US illegally at a later time.
In response to the incident, New York City Mayor Eric Adams has instructed police to collaborate with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to investigate whether federal arson charges can be pursued. However, Gonzalez believes that state charges may result in a harsher sentence.
This disturbing event has sparked renewed concern about subway safety. Although crime in the subway system remains relatively low, recent incidents have contributed to public unease. Data indicates that major crimes are down compared to last year, but homicides have risen, with nine killings through November, up from five in 2023.
New York City continues to grapple with high-profile incidents involving mental health issues, which have heightened anxiety among subway riders.
