Mia Katherine Zapata (August 25, 1965 – July 7, 1993)

In September 1986, she and three friends formed the punk rock band The Gits. In 1989, the band relocated to Seattle, Washington. Mia found a job a local bar and the four bandmembers moved into an abandoned house they called "The Rathouse." As the Gits were making a name for themselves in the local music scene, they often played shows with their friends' band, 7 Year Bitch. In 1992, the band released its debut album Frenching the Bully. Their reputation progressively increased within the grunge scene in Seattle, before the band began work on their second and final album Enter: The Conquering Chicken, released in 1993.Unfortunately, before the group could finish and release their second album "Enter: The Conquering Chicken, Zapata," the band was shocked by the death of Lead Singer Mia Zapata.
Zapata straddled the line between wealth and poverty. Her father describes it as "Mia [living] in two different worlds. She lived on two different sides of the street—the straight side on one, with parochial schools, an affluent family and tennis clubs. But when she crossed the street, material things didn't mean anything to her." Her music often led to a rejection of financial comfort, but regardless of status, Valerie Agnew describes Mia as "commanding respect and interest immediately".
Zapata was well connected to her community. Peter Sheehy recalls "Mia [being] the hub of several social circles; [she was] a magnetic personality who drew all sorts of people together who otherwise might never have met" During her funeral her father became lost and recalls many people carrying yellow roses: the admission ticket to Zapata's funeral.
She was beaten, possibly raped and definitely strangled in the Central District of Seattle. An employee at the Comet Tavern remembered her wearing her headset as she left just before 3am, it is believed she was listening to music and was a not aware an attacker was approaching.