Here's the story behind the woman set on fire in the NYC subway
Suspect in NYC subway burning pleads not guilty
Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway told detectives, "Oh, damn, that’s me," when he saw video of the attack but said he couldn’t remember anything, according to a transcript released Tuesday. He has pled not guilty to charges of murder and arson.
NEW YORK - A woman set on fire inside a New York City subway has raised questions about how a former cheerleader and Merck employee, who fell into homelessness, became the victim of an attack allegedly by a deported migrant.
"It is difficult to fathom what could lead someone to commit the atrocious and horrific murder with which this defendant is charged," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said in a statement Tuesday.
Police say 57-year-old Debrina Kawam, a resident of Toms River, New Jersey, was sleeping on the train when Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused, set her on fire and watched her burn.
It took nearly two weeks for police to identify her following the incident. The Coalition for the Homeless had initially identified her as possibly homeless, but confirmation was pending verification from her family.
Nonetheless a vigil was held for Kawam last month, where the community came together to honor her life despite not knowing exactly who she was.
"Ms. Kawam and her loved ones deserve a measure of justice and New Yorkers deserve to feel safe in the subways," Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.
Who was the woman burned to death?
Kawam grew up in Little Falls, New Jersey, where she was reportedly a popular student, cheerleader, and worked at a pancake house, according to friends who spoke with The New York Times.
In her 20s, she traveled with friends to places like Jamaica, Mexico, the Bahamas, and Las Vegas, holding various short-term jobs, as recalled by friend Cindy Certosimo Bowie.
In the early 2000s, Kawam worked for Merck, but her life took a downturn.
Debrina Kawam's life
Public records show she fell into debt, faced liens, and filed for bankruptcy. Court documents also reveal multiple minor arrests under the name Debrina Kawam.
In a 2008 bankruptcy filing, Kawam listed more than $90,000 in debt and no income.
At the time, her assets included clothes, a futon, a television and a Dodge Neon worth $800.
According to the Department of Social Services, she briefly stayed at a New York homeless shelter after moving to the city recently, though it didn't say when.
Man accused of setting woman on fire, says 'oh, damn, that’s me'
The man accused of setting Debrina Kawam on fire inside a New York City subway said "oh, damn, that’s me," when he saw video of the attack but said he didn't remember anything.
The interview was made public shortly after Sebastian Zapeta, 33, entered a plea of not guilty on murder and arson charges in a Brooklyn court.'
Prosecutors say he set Kawam aboard an F train that was stopped in the early morning hours of Dec. 22,he then fanned the flames with a shirt and watched the woman burn from a subway bench.
Authorities described Zapeta as reacting with "disgust" and "strangeness" to the video, wiping his eyes and exclaiming in Spanish, "Oh, my goodness," according to the transcript.
"I am very sorry. I didn’t mean to," he then told detectives. "I don’t know what happened, but I’m very sorry for that woman."
He admitted to drinking heavily throughout the night and falling asleep on the subway, but claimed he couldn’t remember what happened afterward.
Who is Sebastian Zapeta?
Zapeta, a Guatemalan citizen who entered the U.S. illegally five years ago, told police he had been deported in 2018. He had been living in a Brooklyn shelter and working as a roofer at the time of the incident.
His criminal history
He was previously arraigned last month on a criminal complaint, but in New York, all felony cases require a grand jury indictment to proceed to trial unless a defendant waives that requirement.
He faces a maximum sentence of life in prison without parole on the top charge.