New York man gets five years for subway corpse abuse

A New York court has sentenced 44-year-old Felix Rojas to five years in prison for the sexual abuse of a deceased man's body aboard a Manhattan subway train. Rojas pleaded guilty to the charges related to the incident involving Jorge Gonzalez, 37, who had died after losing consciousness on an R train in April 2025. The court handed down the sentence on Wednesday.

Prosecutors presented evidence, including surveillance footage, showing Rojas targeting Gonzalez after noticing he was unresponsive. Court documents further revealed that Rojas searched the victim's pockets during the disturbing encounter. Rojas, a resident of Brooklyn, surrendered to the police approximately three weeks after the incident, having been identified from surveillance images released during the investigation. He reportedly denied committing the offense when initially questioned by investigators.

In addition to the prison term, the court mandated that Rojas undergo 15 years of supervised release upon completion of his sentence. Immigration authorities have identified Rojas as a Mexican national who had previously attempted to enter the United States unlawfully on multiple occasions. The victim, Jorge Gonzalez, had resided in the U.S. for nearly two decades, working various jobs to support his family members in Mexico. His family members described him as a devoted father and a hardworking man who took on multiple jobs in construction, restaurants, and services to provide for his loved ones.

The case garnered significant public attention across the United States due to its highly unusual and disturbing circumstances. It also raised questions regarding safety protocols and monitoring systems within New York City's extensive transit network. The sentence aims to hold Rojas accountable for his actions while acknowledging the profound impact on the victim and his family.