A 47-year-old man who was set on fire at an Olympia encampment on Oct. 8 has died.
Zebediah Starbrow Schoening died in Seattle on Oct. 25, according to the King County Medical Examiner. His cause and manner of death are so far listed as "pending."
First responders transported Schoening from the encampment on Martin Way East known as the Jungle to Providence St. Peter Hospital on Oct. 8. He was then moved to Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, which treats critical trauma cases.
Meanwhile, the county Prosecuting Attorney's Office has upgraded charges against two suspects from first-degree attempted murder to first-degree murder, according to court records.
Kevin James Hinzpeter and Christopher Edward Snyder, both 31, have been accused of setting Schoening on fire with a chemical and fleeing the scene.
Hinzpeter and Snyder both remained in the Thurston County jail as of Wednesday, the jail roster shows. However, Hinzpeter is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail while Snyder is being held without bail, The Olympian previously reported.
In addition to murder, court records show both men have been charged with first-degree assault and first-degree arson as well as possession, manufacture or disposal of an incendiary device.
Notably, Snyder has also been charged with two counts of intimidating a witness due to his alleged actions following the Oct. 8 incident.
Thurston County Superior Court Judge Alison Zipp set Dec. 16 as the trial date for Snyder's and Hinzpeter's respective cases. However, that date may be delayed or canceled for either men depending on what happens in multiple hearings before then.
Olympia police located Schoening at about 1 a.m. Oct. 8 after receiving a call about an alleged assault, according to court records. He was reportedly found bleeding and severely burned on his torso and arms.
Schoening and witnesses allegedly told police a group of people that included Hinzpeter and Snyder approached Schoening's tent. Schoening reportedly alleged Hinzpeter set him on fire with a liquid that smelled like gasoline. He told police Hinzpeter believed he had killed his ex-girlfriend's brother, according to court records.
One witness told police the group returned the next day to steal Schoening's belongings from his camp and interrogate people there about who spoke to police.
Police booked Hinzpeter into the county jail on Oct. 17 and Snyder on Oct. 18, the jail log shows.
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