What drives someone to commit such a horrifying act?
This case in Brooklyn has left New Yorkers reeling after a woman was brutally killed on a subway train, her life taken in an unimaginable act of violence. .. Continue reading here ▶
A man accused of setting a woman on fire and killing her on a subway train in Brooklyn has been officially charged with murder and arson.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez announced on December 27 that a grand jury indicted 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta-Calil with one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and one count of first-degree arson.
Zapeta is accused of setting fire to a woman as she slept on a parked F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station. He allegedly fanned the flames with a shirt and sat down, watching as she burned to death. Prosecutors called the act “malicious” and “dastardly.” If convicted of first-degree murder, Zapeta could spend the rest of his life in prison.
The victim, believed to be homeless, has not yet been identified due to the extent of her burns. Investigators are using advanced fingerprinting and DNA techniques to try to determine her identity and bring closure to her family. Authorities are also reviewing subway surveillance footage to retrace her journey and potentially learn where she boarded the train.
Zapeta is currently being held on Rikers Island and is expected to appear in court on January 7, when the indictment will be unsealed.
He reportedly told police he was heavily intoxicated and does not remember the incident. Federal arson charges could also be filed against him, but the Brooklyn DA believes the case should remain in state court due to the seriousness of the charges.
