Mia Zapata (August 25, 1965 - July 7, 1993) was the lead singer for the underground rock band The Gits . She was especially well regarded for her dynamic live performances and was also considered to be a uniquely gifted lyricist and painter. Musically, as well as socially, Zapata was highly popular and the centre of a large circle of friends and associates. Zapata was reportedly fond of the music of Bessie Smith, Billie Holliday, Jimmy Reed, Ray Charles and Hank Williams; television entertainers the Three Stooges; hardcore punk rock; imaginal poetry such as Arthur Rimbaud's Illuminations; and the art of Egon Schiele and Willem De Kooning. She was murdered at the age of 27 while walking home one night in Seattle, Washington.

A jury convicted a Florida fisherman, Jesus Mezquia , of her murder on March 25, 2004.

Her case was featured on Unsolved Mysteries.

Reference

• Johnson, Tracy. 11 years later, justice for slain singer Zapata (26 Mar. 2004). Seattle Post-Intelligencer. http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/166473_zapata26.html (accessed 26 Mar. 2004).