Woman set on fire in NYC subway identified as 57-year-old from NJ: Details
NEW YORK - The woman who was burned to death on an F train in Brooklyn last week has been identified.
Police say 57-year-old Debrina Kawam, a resident of Toms River, New Jersey, was sleeping on the train when the incident happened.
The Coalition for the Homeless had initially identified her as possibly homeless, but confirmation was pending verification from her family.
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, the man accused of setting Kawam on fire, has been charged with multiple counts of murder and arson. He waived his right to appear in court on Friday after being indicted.
Photo credit: Pool/Curtis Means
A vigil was held for Kawam last Thursday, where the community came together to honor her life despite not knowing exactly who she was.
Who is Sebastian Zapeta-Calil?
Zapeta-Calil, a Guatemalan citizen, entered the United States illegally and was previously deported in 2018. He later re-entered the country illegally at an unknown location and date.
He faces first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree murder, and arson charges. He is scheduled to return to court on Jan. 7 when the indictment is expected to be unsealed.
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Woman dies after being set on fire in NYC subway train; suspect charged
NYPD commissioner Jessica Tisch described the case as "one of the most depraved crimes one person could possibly commit against another human being."
Timeline of woman set on fire in NYC subway
According to police, both the suspect and the victim were riding the F train toward the Stillwell Avenue station in Coney Island around 7:30 a.m. on Dec. 22. Investigators believe they did not know each other.
When the train reached the station, Zapeta-Calil allegedly approached Kawam, who was seated, and set her on fire using a lighter. Her clothing quickly became engulfed in flames.
NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said that officers stationed on an upper level of the station noticed the smoke and rushed to investigate. When they entered the train, they found Kawam fully engulfed in flames. Despite efforts to extinguish the fire, she was pronounced dead at the scene.
Zapeta-Calil arrest
Transit police apprehended Zapeta-Calil after three high school students recognized him from surveillance footage and notified authorities. The suspect had remained at the scene, sitting on a subway platform near the train. Officers later found him on another subway train and arrested him without incident, recovering a lighter from his pocket.