Woman burned to death on NYC subway was from Toms River, police say
Debrina Kawam had an address in Toms River, N.J., and had spent time in New York City's homeless shelter system.
The person who died after being set on fire inside a New York City subway train last week has been identified as a 57-year-old New Jersey woman.
Police announced Tuesday that the victim, Debrina Kawam, had an address in Toms River, N.J. Kawam lived for a “brief stint” in New York City’s homeless shelter system, Mayor Eric Adams said, but he did not provide details on when that stay occurred.
“Hearts go out to the family, a horrific incident to have to live through,” Adams said Tuesday. “It impacts on how New Yorkers feel. But it really reinforces what I’ve been saying: People should not be living on our subway system, they should be in a place of care. No matter where she lived, that should not have happened.”
Kawam’s alleged killer, Sebastian Zapeta, was arrested shortly after authorities released images of a suspect in the slaying. A grand jury indicted Zapeta on murder and arson charges Friday in connection with the killing.
Zapeta, 33, is from Guatemala and allegedly entered the U.S. illegally, federal immigration officials said. The indictment against him is slated to be unsealed next week.
What happened to Debrina Kawam?
Authorities say that on the morning of Dec. 22, Zapeta lit Kawam on fire onboard a stopped F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue subway station in Brooklyn. Surveillance video showed a man approach Kawam, who was motionless and possibly sleeping, and light her clothing on fire, police said.
Kawam’s clothing “became fully engulfed in a matter of seconds,” New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said last week. Zapeta allegedly remained at the scene as Kawam burned, watching from a subway platform bench while police and a transit worker attempted to put out the blaze. Zapeta, prosecutors said, fanned the flames with a shirt.
Kawam was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities did not publicly identify her until Tuesday and said that they had been in contact with her next of kin. Previously, investigators indicated that they were using video surveillance and forensics to identify her.
How was Sebastian Zapeta caught?
Following Kawam’s killing, police released images of a suspect. Police quickly received a tip from a group of high school students who recognized Zapeta, and authorities arrested him riding the same subway line hours after Kawam’s death.
Zapeta was initially charged in a criminal complaint with murder and arson. As a matter of procedure in New York, felony cases require a grand jury indictment ahead of trial, and Zapeta was indicted late last week.
“The depravity of this horrific crime is beyond comprehension, and my office is committed to bringing the perpetrator to justice,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement.
Federal immigration officials have said that Zapeta is a Guatemalan citizen. He was deported at some point in 2018, but later returned to the United States illegally, officials said. When he came back into the country remains unclear.
Following his arrest, police released a Brooklyn address for Zapeta that matches a shelter focused on providing housing and substance abuse support.
What is Zapeta charged with?
Authorities have charged Zapeta with murder and arson. He faces a maximum sentence of life without parole, and his indictment is scheduled to be unsealed Jan. 7. Zapeta was not present at a hearing last week, and his attorney declined to comment on the case.
After being taken into custody, prosecutors said, Zapeta claimed he did not know what happened and noted that he consumes alcohol. However, he was allegedly able to identify himself in photos and surveillance video of the incident.
Zapeta has not yet entered a plea.
This article contains information from the Associated Press.