They identify the woman who was burned to death by a Guatemalan on a New York train

• Guatemalan migrant charged with murder.
• Burned woman identified as Debrina Kawam.
• The attack occurred in Coney Island, Brooklyn.

A woman who died after being set on fire on a New York subway train has been identified as Debrina Kawam, 57, a resident of Toms River, New Jersey.

The information was confirmed on Tuesday by the New York Police Department (NYPD).

The attack occurred on December 22 when Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan migrant, set Kawam on fire while she was sleeping on a train stopped at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.

According to prosecutors, Zapeta fanned the flames by wearing a shirt and then watched from a bench on the platform as the victim burned. Kawam was pronounced dead at the scene.

Burned woman identified in New York

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The woman burned alive in the NYC subway by a Guatemalan immigrant was identified as Debrina Kawam, 61, originally from New Jersey. pic.twitter.com/YWX9t5hH3j

— UHN Plus – In Spanish (@UHN_Plus) December 31, 2024

The mayor of New York, Eric Adams, revealed that Kawam had spent a brief time in the homeless shelter system, although he did not specify when this occurred.

Adams also confirmed that authorities have been in contact with the victim’s next of kin.

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“Our hearts go out to the family, it was a horrible incident they had to go through,” Adams said.

“It affects how New Yorkers feel, but it really reinforces what I’ve been saying: People shouldn’t live in our subway system, they should be in a place where they get care. “No matter where I lived, that shouldn’t have happened.”

Guatemalan migrant detained

Sebastian Zapeta was arrested a few hours after the crime thanks to a tip provided by a group of high school students. Those who recognized the suspect in the images released by the police.

He has since been formally charged with murder and arson.

According to prosecutor Ari Rottenberg, Zapeta admitted that he drinks a lot and said he did not remember what happened. Although he was identified in surveillance videos showing the start of the fire.

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric González described the act as “malicious” and reiterated that the evidence is compelling.

Authorities also noted that there is no indication that Kawam and Zapeta knew each other before the attack.

Zapeta remains jailed and has not yet entered a plea.

His lawyer has declined to comment on the case, according to AP.

Meanwhile, the Toms River community mourns the tragic loss of Kawam.

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