A man who raped a dead body on a New York City subway train has been sentenced to five years in prison. Felix Rojas, 44, was convicted of the horrific assault and robbery of Jorge Gonzalez, 37, on an R train near the Whitehall Street station in April 2025.
The Attack
Gonzalez had boarded the train, lost consciousness, and died on a bench inside the subway car nearly three hours before Rojas arrived and violated him. According to Manhattan prosecutors, Rojas noticed Gonzalez was motionless, then moved his waist to Gonzalez's mouth while repeatedly thrusting his hips back and forth. The assailant then pulled down Gonzalez's pants, raped him, and searched through his pockets.
Court documents reveal that Rojas pulled up Gonzalez's pants and sat back on the subway bench as the train continued to make stops, attempting to avoid detection.
Arrest and Sentencing
Rojas, a Brooklyn resident, turned himself in three weeks after the attack, accompanied by his son. He identified himself after seeing a surveillance image but told police he “did not do that.” On Wednesday, June 17, he sat speechless as he was sentenced to five years in prison. The plea deal also includes 15 years of supervised release after his prison term.
Immigration Status
An ICE spokesperson told the New York Post that Rojas is an illegal immigrant who had attempted to cross the Southern border unlawfully on multiple occasions.
The Victim
Jorge Gonzalez came to the United States nearly 20 years ago, working various jobs to support his family in Mexico. His wife, Teresa, 38, said, “He wasn’t just a random person, he was a father, he was a family man, he cared about his family in Mexico. He did construction, he worked in kitchens, he worked as a waiter, he was a busboy. You know, anything you really could do to try to get ahead.” The couple had been separated for six years.
