Court verdict and official announcements from New York City courts

Guatemalan Man Indicted on Murder and Arson Charges in NYC Subway Death

Dec 27, 2024, 05:00 PM

Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan national accused of burning a woman to death inside a New York City subway train, has been indicted on murder and arson charges, prosecutors announced on Friday. Authorities say that on Sunday morning, Zapeta approached a woman sleeping on a stopped F train at Brooklyn's Coney Island station and set her clothing on fire with a lighter, then fanned the flames with his shirt. The woman, who was burned beyond recognition, has yet to be identified as investigators review surveillance footage to confirm her identity. Zapeta, who is reportedly in the U.S. illegally, is scheduled to return to court on January 7, when the indictment will be unsealed. He faces charges including first-degree murder and arson, which carry the possibility of life without parole.