Man indicted on murder charges in burning death of woman inside New York City subway train
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Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was arrested following the harrowing incident on Sunday morning on a stopped F train at Brooklyn’s Coney Island station. A man accused of setting a woman on fire and then fanning the flames as she burned to death inside a New York City subway train has been indicted on state charges.
![[Zapeta waived his right to a court appearance on Friday and will now remain jailed at the New York’s Rikers Island complex until that time]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/24/15/d0c4f933c3e84578b6c366b5f6fd9c9b.jpg)
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was arrested following the harrowing incident on Sunday morning on a stopped F train at Brooklyn’s Coney Island station. Prosecutors with the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office announced the indictment on Friday. It contains one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson.
![[Prosecutors said that state charges have been brought so that the maximum sentence can be sought]](https://static.independent.co.uk/2024/12/27/05/Subway_Burning_31950.jpg)
The full indictment will remain under seal until he is arraigned on the new charges on January 7, Brooklyn DA Eric Gonzalez said at a press conference. Zapeta, a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally, waived his right to a court appearance on Friday and will remain jailed at New York’s Rikers Island complex. At the press conference, Gonzalez was asked why he had elected to bring state rather than federal charges.
“One is, I have a lot of confidence in the people of Brooklyn and the people who come and serve on jury duty here,” he said. “This crime took place in New York City, in Brooklyn, and that the people of this county should serve on the jury there.
“Second, very simply, state law is more significant in this case. You know, there’s a possibility of life without parole. That’s not an option in the proposed arson charge that was mentioned… So you’re looking at more time in this particular case.
