NY - Female passenger died after being set on fire by man on subway - NYC - December 22, 2024

[sunflowermomma]

I am almost wondering if she was a tourist or visiting for the holidays and that is why she hasn't been identified yet.

 

[DS2021]

I am almost wondering if she was a tourist or visiting for the holidays and that is why she hasn't been identified yet.

Or she was local and homeless, new york has countless homeless uid cases in namus. A lot of them have tentative names tho

 

[Donswife48]

I am almost wondering if she was a tourist or visiting for the holidays and that is why she hasn't been identified yet.

No, a tourist would not be sleeping at the end of the subway line surrounded by bottles of alcohol. She was a forgotten person, alone and no one cared. JMO

 

[DS2021]

Gastric bypass surgeries are pretty expensive. That suggests she had fallen on hard times some time before her murder, if she was indeed homeless (which it certainly appears to be).

"The average cost of gastric bypass surgery is between $15,000 and $35,000, with $23,000 being the most quoted price.5"

Gastric Bypass Surgery: How it Works, Costs, and What to Expect

This gastric bypass surgery guide provides an overview of the procedure, costs, recovery, diets, expected results, and other common concerns from patients.

www.carecredit.com

Is it possible she went out of country where it was likely much cheaper?

 

[DS2021]

Gastric bypass surgeries are pretty expensive. That suggests she had fallen on hard times some time before her murder, if she was indeed homeless (which it certainly appears to be).

"The average cost of gastric bypass surgery is between $15,000 and $35,000, with $23,000 being the most quoted price.5"

Gastric Bypass Surgery: How it Works, Costs, and What to Expect

This gastric bypass surgery guide provides an overview of the procedure, costs, recovery, diets, expected results, and other common concerns from patients.

www.carecredit.com

Its also possible she got it done years ago. Im sure they could tell approx when it was done based off how it was done

This article touches on the history of the surgery

Bariatric Surgery for Weight Loss and How It Has Evolved | Brown University Health

Bariatric surgery, also known as weight loss surgery, is the most effective and long-lasting treatment for obesity, a chronic condition.

www.brownhealth.org

 

[Charlot123]

I am almost wondering if she was a tourist or visiting for the holidays and that is why she hasn't been identified yet.

Unlikely a tourist. On the one hand, 8 mln + suburbs, NY is a huge city. But, she could also be from New England, or Pennsylvania, or even from the South part of the East Coast.

<modsnip - off topic>

 

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[Dotta]

"Migrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil
to face five charges of murder and arson
over subway fire death of woman."

Five charges for migrant who set woman on fire in NYC subway revealed

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez emphasized his confidence in the case an in holding Sebastian Zapeta-Calil accountable for his 'dastardly deeds.'

www.dailymail.co.uk

 

[Sweeper2000]

This story is far too tragic. That's so sad. She obviously had it together at some point and just to meet that end is horrific.

Anyone know if the authorities will likely be able to identify her using dna and narrow down the options of who she is or where she came from?

 

[Elley Mae]

Officials weighing anthropological facial reconstruction to ID woman burned in NYC subway attack: sources

Officials weighing anthropological facial reconstruction to ID woman burned in NYC subway attack: sources

“Facial recognition or approximation comes in when you’re really trying to shake the trees, because you’ve kind of hit a dead end.”

nypost.com

 

[jjenny]

Is it possible she went out of country where it was likely much cheaper?

Yes, but it still not free and implies at some point in life she had finances. Homeless individuals don't usually travel to other countries for bariatric surgery.

 

[jjenny]

This story is far too tragic. That's so sad. She obviously had it together at some point and just to meet that end is horrific.

Anyone know if the authorities will likely be able to identify her using dna and narrow down the options of who she is or where she came from?

If they got her DNA, they could do a familial DNA test and identify her relatives (if the relatives are in the database). From there they can try and figure out who she is.

 

[Teignmouth 22]

Amid all these efforts to identify her, I'm surprised more isn't being made of possible CCTV footage of her prior to the fire. Even if they don't want to release actual footage yet, a reconstruction could perhaps be derived from it, and sooner or later they may have to turn to it and release it. I hope it goes without saying that any such footage has been preserved. As far as I know here in the UK it often has to be seized pretty fast as there is a tendency for some private businesses to only keep it for so long, but in the case of the public transport provider I would have thought it's a different and much more straightforward procedure.

That said, a murder in West London in 2011 was solved with help from CCTV footage provided by a private hotel; the killers had planned to avoid any cameras during the commission of the crime, but missed this particular one on their recce beforehand.

 

[DS2021]

Most patients who meet the criteria don't get this surgery.

"However, despite these improvements in outcomes and safety, utilization of bariatric surgery among patients who meet body mass index (BMI) criteria according to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) (BMI 40kg/m2 or BMI 35– 39.9kg/m2 with an obesity-related comorbidity) remains about 1%.

Bariatric Surgery Trends in the U.S.: 1% is the Loneliest Number - PMC

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Thats the criteria now. Do we know what it was 20-30+ years ago? I dont see why the surgery couldn't have been done decades ago

 

[Teignmouth 22]

This is a long shot and apologies if it has already been mentioned (blame my ADHD/menopausal brain if so!) but I wonder if such surgery would involve parts that have serial numbers that can be traced. Here in the UK in 2003 a murder victim who'd had cosmetic implants was identified by their serial numbers, although I don't know if this would apply in all such medical cases.

 

[jjenny]

This is a long shot and apologies if it has already been mentioned (blame my ADHD/menopausal brain if so!) but I wonder if such surgery would involve parts that have serial numbers that can be traced. Here in the UK in 2003 a murder victim who'd had cosmetic implants was identified by their serial numbers, although I don't know if this would apply in all such medical cases.

I don't think there are parts with serial numbers left inside after gastric bypass surgery. It doesn't involve implants.

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

IMO many people don’t know this. A lot of fires get out of control because people don’t know what to do or do it worse by for example fanning flames.

Sadly true @Fika …. ‘drop and roll’ if you can. So very sad. And the poor dear victim. ;(

And IMO why or what the suspect did is immaterial now sadly. And whether or not, he may have drank alcohol is also absolutely irrelevant in my opinion. A excuse only; not a reason. The only deviation for that would be - if he had poured any of his alcohol drink on her and then set her alight. If that is proven case…… well let me stop here. And irregardless, give him the absolute maximum allowed. Swiftly. And with certainty. MOO

 

[I am not Sherlock H.]

Amid all these efforts to identify her, I'm surprised more isn't being made of possible CCTV footage of her prior to the fire. Even if they don't want to release actual footage yet, a reconstruction could perhaps be derived from it, and sooner or later they may have to turn to it and release it. I hope it goes without saying that any such footage has been preserved. As far as I know here in the UK it often has to be seized pretty fast as there is a tendency for some private businesses to only keep it for so long, but in the case of the public transport provider I would have thought it's a different and much more straightforward procedure.

That said, a murder in West London in 2011 was solved with help from CCTV footage provided by a private hotel; the killers had planned to avoid any cameras during the commission of the crime, but missed this particular one on their recce beforehand.

Yes @Teignmouth 22 !!! Absolutely. I also surely hope that work is underway. And well underway!

I hope against all hope, that it isn’t at the ‘bottom of the list’ because of the tedious nature to pour over minutes, hours, days or weeks of such CCTV footage where she might have appeared? (IIUC, the longer time goes….. it could be overwritten. ) And as you suggest…… this should be right on the top of the list! It might be the best and only option for a while. MOO

 

[Angelcat13]

After seeing NamUs Im surprised they were able to determine hair colour considering that the she was not recognisable including ethnicity ( per namus) I would assume that hair would burn rather fast.
She was younger than I expected with estimated no older than 60.

I wonder is she may have been wearing a wool hat that may have somewhat protected her hair. Merino wool is naturally fire-resistant. (I learned about this recently while Christmas shopping for an approved base layer for my son who is a lineman for a gas/electric utility company.)

Fire-Resistant
Most outdoor gear spends at least some time around campfires. Merino typically won’t melt or burst into flame. Nylon starts to melt around 320 degrees and polyester starts to melt around 452 degrees.

Merino 101: What's Merino Wool, Why Choose It | Smartwool®

What is Merino wool? Learn more about the benefits of Merino wool, what Merino is made of, and how it helps you stay comfortable and perform better outdoors.

www.smartwool.com

 

[Angelcat13]

The NAMUS information gives us some way to think concretely about the victim. We now know that she has brown hair and carried a pink tote bag.
I hope that pink tote bags will show up in communities across the nation with people filling them with food and other essentials and taking them to their food bank and/or homeless shelters in their communities, in memory of the victim.

Perhaps soon we will know more and NAMUS will be updated as the Medical Examiner's Office continues to investigate this dreadful crime.

In the mean time, taking a photo of the pink tote bag to the various homeless services organizations nearby may help jog someone's memories. Perhaps a staff member or volunteer who works there.

“I hope that pink tote bags will show up in communities across the nation with people filling them with food and other essentials and taking them to their food bank and/or homeless shelters in their communities, in memory of the victim.”

What an ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL thought! You are amazingly kind!