Man who set person on fire with ‘homemade napalm’ sentenced for Olympia murder
A Thurston County judge sentenced a man to over 14 years in prison this week for murdering a man who he set on fire at an Olympia encampment in 2024.
Kevin Hinzpeter, 32, pleaded guilty to second-degree murder on Sept. 16 for the death of Zebediah Starbrow Schoening, a 47-year-old former resident of “The Jungle,” the homeless encampment on Martin Way East in Olympia.
On Monday, Superior Court Judge Christopher Lanese sentenced Hinzpeter to 14 years, three and a half months in prison and three years of community custody. This sentence fell in the middle of the standard range for the offense and followed a plea agreement between Hinzpeter and prosecutors.
“I’m hoping that after this time served there that you’ll be in a position to where you’ll get the support that you need, you’ll have the reflection and the punishment deserved for this crime, and that you’ll end up in a better and different circumstance when you come out,” Lanese said.
The case ended over a year after Hinzpeter doused Schoening with “homemade napalm” and set him on fire by his tent on Oct. 8, 2024, according to court records.
Schoening suffered severe burns across his body and face, but he was still alive when officers arrived on scene.
First responders initially transported him to Providence St. Peter Hospital in Olympia. However, he was later transferred to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, which treats critical trauma cases.
Schoening died from his injuries on Oct. 25, 2024, prompting the county Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to upgrade Hinzpeter’s charge from first-degree attempted murder to first-degree murder.
Hinzpeter was also accused of first-degree assault and first-degree arson as well as possession, manufacture or disposal of an incendiary device. However, those charges were dropped as part of the plea agreement.
Court records show Hinzpeter enter an Alford plea, meaning he pleaded guilty but maintains he did not commit the specific crime he was charged with.
Hinzpeter was not the only person responsible for Schoening’s death. On Oct. 20, a jury found Christopher Edward Snyder, 32, guilty of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first-degree assault, all while armed with a deadly weapon.
Additionally, the jury found Snyder guilty of first-degree arson as well as possession, manufacture or disposal of an incendiary device. Lastly, he was convicted of two counts of intimidating a witness.
Snyder was due to be sentenced Monday, but his hearing was rescheduled to Nov. 26 because his attorney did not receive the state’s sentencing memorandum on time.
Hinzpeter addresses the court
Hinzpeter addressed the court and Schoening’s family members before Lanese delivered his ruling. In his remarks, he described Schoening’s death as a tragic accident and offered his condolences.
“I would like to state that despite what many may think, I am truly sorry for their loss, pain and suffering,” Hinzpeter said. “I wouldn’t wish such a tragic misfortune upon anybody. I sincerely hope they find peace to their suffering as soon as possible.”
Hinzpeter said he was going through a mental health crisis prior to his incarceration. He said this crisis stemmed from the death of his little brother and his mother’s deteriorating health.
“Unfortunately, I found myself seeking some form of peace of mind in the form of heavy substance abuse,” Hinzpeter said. “In my prolonged state of diminished capacity, I began to lose my sanity. I lost all hope for the future. “Unable to cope with my circumstances, I began to quickly lose control of my life.”
Hinzpeter said he has started taking medication to improve his mental health and has remained sober since his incarceration. He said he looks forward to seeking treatment for his mental health and substance abuse in the future.
“I’m not a violent person, though under the influence and diminished capacity, I’ve made mistakes that I will unfortunately have to live with for the rest of my life,” Hinzpeter said. “I hope that one day I will be able to make amends with all those who have been affected by my actions, both directly and indirectly.”
Schoening family addresses the court
Robin Schoening, the victim’s ex-wife, recounted how she learned of Zebediah Schoening’s hospitalization and lamented that her daughter had to see her father in critical condition.
“We were there when he came off life support and passed all together,” Robin Schoening said. “It was a horrible, agonizing two weeks, and then death. My daughter and I both had nightmares, which continue to this day. She no longer has her father and will have these ghastly memories the rest of her life.”
She said her grandson also lost the opportunity to get to know his grandfather.
“The Zeb I knew was an amazing artist, person and father who unfortunately took many wrong turns, but he lost any chance for a future or change or redemption,” Robin Schoening said.
She said Hinzpeter invaded Zebediah Schoening’s home in “The Jungle” and set him on fire in a premeditated attack.
“No human or even animal deserves that pain and torture,” Robin Schoening said. “There was no regard for anyone present as the fire could have endangered many more people.”
Mariah Schoening, the victim’s daughter, said her father did not deserve to be burned alive and be taken away from his family. Though she had a complicated relationship with her father, she said, she still fondly remembered the good he instilled in her.
“He taught me how to create, how to love so wholeheartedly no matter how something or someone appears to be,” Mariah Schoening said.
She said her father showed her how to read and write, giving her a foundation for her education that she’s still pursuing to this day in the hopes of becoming an educator herself.
“I see so much my dad in me; our love of art, our love of the horror genre, music, our love of food,” Mariah Schoening said. “No matter how angry I was ... I see now that I still love and have always loved him.”
Judge explains his sentence
Judge Lanese said he was initially surprised to see prosecutors recommend 14 years, three and a half months for Hinzpeter’s sentence.
“I’ll be honest, when I first read the state’s recommendation, its memorandum, I was like: ‘Wow, that seems low for someone burning someone to death,’” Lanese said.
The probable cause statement indicates Zebediah Schoening named Hinzpeter as his assailant. In the course of the investigation, police determined that Snyder also took part in the attack and attempted to cover it up.
“I wouldn’t say that you’re the less culpable person here,” Snyder said to Hinzpeter. “I don’t know who is or if that really matters necessarily, but from the probable cause statement, which I can consider here, the one person that Zebediah identified as being the person who killed him was you. And if there is an easy way to identify culpability, it might start and stop there.”
Though he was initially wary of the recommended sentence, Lanese said it was important for him to hear Hinzpeter accept responsibility and explain the context around his mental health and substance abuse. Still, he recognized the severity of the crime at hand.
“Although I was moved significantly off of my initial thoughts about what made sense here, I cannot in good conscious go below the midpoint for a crime such as this,” Lanese said.
