Reuters identifies woman burned in New York subway
By Andrew Hay
(Reuters) – A woman who died after being set on fire in the New York subway earlier this month has been identified as Debrina Kawam, 57, of Toms River, New Jersey, the New York coroner’s office said on Tuesday .
Kawam was identified through fingerprint analysis and her death from thermal and inhalation injuries was ruled a homicide, said Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the Office of the Chief Medical (TASE:) Examiner.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Kawam “spent a short period of time in our homeless shelter system,” without providing further details.
Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen, was charged with murder and arson after he allegedly set Kawam on fire and watched her burn at a subway station.
Zapeta was arrested about six hours, police said, after he used a lighter to set fire to the clothing of Kawam, who was apparently dozing on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue stop in Brooklyn.
The suspect entered the United States without authorization in 2018 and was deported to Guatemala a few days later. The US Department of Homeland Security said it was unclear when he re-entered the country illegally.
According to police, there appeared to be no prior interaction between the attacker, a man from Brooklyn, and Kawam.
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security statement said it would begin deportation proceedings again each time Zapeta is released from custody in New York, which could result in a lengthy prison sentence if convicted.
(This story has been re-archived to remove an incorrect photo)
