Woman burned alive while sleeping on Brooklyn F train; suspect at large

Police in Brooklyn are on the hunt for the depraved killer who lit a woman on fire as she slept on a F train, burning her to death on Sunday morning.

The horrifying incident occurred on board a stationary F train in Coney Island’s Stillwell Avenue subway station at around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 22.

According to law enforcement sources, the victim was asleep on the train when the unhinged man lit her on fire. Police could not yet confirm how he did it, but according to a New York Post article, he threw a lit match at the victim, causing her to go on fire immediately.

Sources in the same article said the victim was found with liquor bottles strewn about her, though it was not immediately clear if the perp used them in the horrific attack.  

Officers from the 60th Precinct, located just blocks away, and Transit District 34 rushed to the scene and found the woman fully engulfed in flames and immediately extinguished the fire.

EMS responded and pronounced the woman dead at the scene.

Meanwhile, the perp fled the subway car before officers arrived.

Police on Sunday released surveillance photos of the perp, who remains at large. He is described as being 5 foot, six inches tall, approximately 25 to 30 years old and weighs around 150 pounds. He was last seen wearing a gray hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, a dark-colored knit hat with a red band, and brown boots.

MTA Chief Security Officer Michael Kemper said in a statement to amNewYork Metro: “We have images of the perpetrator and are working closely with NYPD investigators to track him down and arrest him for this senseless and horrific crime.”

At press time, F train service remains suspended in both directions between Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue and either Church Avenue or Kings Highway.

The last stop on southbound F trains will be either Kings Highway or Church Avenue where they will turn back for northbound service.

Police are withholding the victim’s name pending family notification. So far, no arrests have been made, but the investigation remains ongoing.

Anyone with information regarding the incident can call Crime Stoppers at 800-577-TIPS (for Spanish, dial 888-57-PISTA). You can also submit tips online at crimestoppers.nypdonline.org, or on X (formerly Twitter) @NYPDTips. All calls and messages are kept confidential.