Mia Katherine Zapata (August 25, 1965 – July 7, 1993) was an American musician who was the lead singer for the Seattle punk band The Gits. After gaining praise in the nascent grunge scene, Zapata was murdered in 1993 while on her way home from a music venue, at age 27. The crime went unsolved for a decade before her killer, Jesus Mezquia, was tried, convicted and sentenced to 36 years in prison. Life and career: Mia Zapata was raised in Louisville, Kentucky and attended high school at Presentation Academy.