Authorities said Tuesday that the guy who is suspected of killing a subway passenger in New York City by lighting her on fire has no recollection of “what happened” and has acknowledged drinking excessively.
A Brooklyn judge formally informed Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old Guatemalan national living in the United States illegally, that he had been charged with murder and arson in relation to the horrific incident on Sunday.
The unidentified person was slain at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station while dozing off on a halted F train.
According to a prosecution, Zapeta-Calil continued “fanning the flames with a shirt” after the defendant reportedly lit her on fire with a lighter.
Later, Zapeta-Calil admitted to police that he “doesn’t know what happened” and that he consumes a lot of alcohol.
Zapeta-Calil, who seemed to be wearing the same white Tyvek suit he wore when New York police officers originally escorted him out of a police station in front of waiting cameras, needed a translator to help him understand the court proceedings on Tuesday.
He didn’t have to enter a plea and didn’t say anything in court.
Zapeta-Calil’s next court date is this Friday, and he was ordered to be held without bail.
According to court documents, the Medical Examiner has already concluded that the victim’s death was a homicide by “thermal injuries and smoke inhalation,” despite the fact that she has not yet been identified.
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