On December 22nd, a terrible incident occurred in the New York City subway. That day was a Sunday, and around 7:20 a.m, a woman had fallen asleep in one of the train cars. Suddenly, as the train was pulling into the Coney Island station, a man approached her and set her clothing on fire with a lighter, leaving her engulfed in flames within seconds.
When the train stopped at the station and the doors opened, the woman could be seen engulfed in a massive fireball, clutching the poles without moving.
What stands out in the video, which was quickly uploaded to social media, is that several people were recording, and a police officer walked by as if nothing was happening.
After witnesses alerted authorities, several officers quickly arrived and extinguished the flames with a fire extinguisher. Unfortunately, it was too late, and the woman was pronounced dead at the scene.
As if that wasn’t disturbing enough, surveillance cameras revealed that the suspect stayed seated on a bench on the platform to watch the woman burn. Before fleeing, he even stoked the flames with a shirt while being filmed by passersby.
Thanks to the distribution of the suspect’s photo by the police, three high school students reported seeing him at the same Manhattan station they were at. Minutes later, he was arrested at this location.
The suspect, a 33-year-old Guatemalan man named Sebastián Zapeta, was identified. Reports indicate he was deported in 2018, but it’s unclear how or when he re-entered the United States.
In a press conference, Jessica Tisch of the NYPD described the incident as “one of the most depraved crimes a person can commit against another human being.”
During the press conference, additional details were revealed, such as the sequence of events, whether the victim and the suspect knew each other, and the moment officers learned of the incident.
Social media users heavily criticized the video showing a police officer doing nothing in front of the train car while the woman burned. In response, authorities explained during the press conference that this officer stayed to secure the crime scene “as they are supposed to” while others went to retrieve fire extinguishers and transit workers. However, these statements haven’t convinced many people.
On Court:
On December 24th, two days after the incident, Sebastián Zapeta appeared in court with his attorney.
With the help of a translator, he admitted that he had been drinking heavily that day and didn’t remember anything about the incident.
Zapeta now faces charges of first- and second-degree murder, as well as arson.
The most serious charge carries a maximum penalty of life in prison without parole.
Brooklyn District Attorney Eric González called the attack a “horrific and senseless act,” pointing out that the man was seen stoking the fire with a shirt. González stated that for this reason, the suspect “will face the most severe consequences.”
For now, Sebastián remains in custody at the Rikers Island complex and is expected to appear in court again shortly. His defense attorney has not requested bail.
The Victim:
One aspect of the case that has drawn significant attention and sparked all kinds of speculation is that the victim’s identity has not been disclosed. Initially, the media reported that the victim was a homeless person, as if that somehow diminished the importance of the crime. Later, someone posted a name: Amelia Carter.
Posts about Amelia Carter claimed she was a 29-year-old philosophy Ph.D. student who was on her way to visit her grandmother that Sunday morning. The first post on X read:
“The victim’s name was AMELIA CARTER, 29. The media refuse to publish her name and photo because she was a young woman whose life was stolen by an illegal immigrant. She wasn’t drunk or homeless. THIS MUST BE KNOWN.”
A photo of the alleged victim appeared alongside a message supposedly written by her family, demanding justice for the young woman. But soon it was revealed that Amelia Carter does not exist.
According to several media outlets, the image was generated by artificial intelligence as part of a cryptocurrency scam.
Finally, during a vigil held in honor of the woman, Reverend Kevin McCall confirmed that the police have not disclosed the victim’s identity because the condition of her body has made identification impossible. He also issued the following appeal:
“We are calling on New Yorkers: If you know who she is, please contact the police department. This could be your loved one.”
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