(NewsNation) — The man charged in the killing of a woman who was burned alive as she slept on a New York City subway train is due in court Friday.
As Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is set to appear before a grand jury, there are still more questions than answers about the victim in this case. The New York Police Department is still trying to figure out the woman’s identity.
Authorities say Zapeta-Calil approached the woman on the subway and lit her clothing on fire. Zapeta-Calil then fanned the flames using a shirt, prosecutors said.
The 33-year-old from Guatemala was arraigned on murder and arson charges Tuesday. In court, he stood before the judge in a white jumpsuit and black hoodie. Zapeta-Calil did not speak and was surrounded by a dozen NYPD officers the entire time.
The crime was caught on camera. Body-worn cameras on responding officers caught the suspect’s face and his image was blasted on social media. Three teenagers in a different part of the city recognized him and called the police.
Video footage shows an NYPD patrolman passing the scene casually. At one point, someone appears with a blanket to fan the flames, while another person is filming.
At the time of the incident, Zapeta-Calil was living at a homeless shelter that provides outpatient services for substance abuse and mental health. A source close to the investigation tells NewsNation that Zapeta-Calil’s attorney wanted his client to have a psychiatric evaluation, possibly setting the stage for an insanity defense.
Federal immigration officials said Zapeta-Calil entered the U.S. illegally. He has been jailed at New York City’s Rikers Island complex.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
