A woman who died after allegedly being set on fire by a man on the subway was so badly burned she will most likely be identified through dental records.
Police commissioner Jessica Tisch said a woman, who has yet to be identified, was on a stationary F train to Brooklyn at the time of incident on Sunday (December 22).
The train was sat at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station at about 07.30am local time when she was approached by a man, according to police.
Investigators believe there was no conversation or even interaction between the pair before the man used a lighter to set her clothing alight.
She died at the scene.
The suspect has since been identified as 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, who was charged with murder and arson on Monday (December 23).
“I want you to know that this apprehension was another in what has become a series of joint efforts involving different crimes between the police and the public we serve,” police commissioner Tisch said.
“In today’s case, we were able to get incredibly clear and detailed images of the suspect from the initial incident. Then, we asked the media to broadcast those images far and wide so we could use the viewing public as a force multiplier — and New Yorkers came through again.”
The New York Police Department have confirmed Zapeta was arrested about six hours after the incident, with Tisch stating the woman’s clothes ‘became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds’.
“This person carried out one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being,” Tisch added.
NYPD officers have since said they may have to resort to dental records to help identify the victim due to the nature of her burns.
Officials were able to pinpoint Zapeta thanks to CCTV footage obtained from the train and three witnesses who called 911 after the attack.
The suspect was detained on another train that was stopped at Herald Square, police commissioner Tisch added.
Officials found a lighter in his pocket upon his arrest.
Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement: “The depravity of this horrific crime is beyond comprehension, and my office is committed to bringing the perpetrator to justice.
“This gruesome and senseless act of violence against a vulnerable woman will be met with the most serious consequences.”
While NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph Gulotta added: “This is amazing work done by the public and the police working together. Once again, someone saw something, we got it out through technology in numerous ways, and we were able to make a quick arrest on this nothing less than heinous crime that occurred in our subway system.”
