Who was Debrina Kawam from New Jersey? Woman Burned to Death on NYC Subway
Woman Burned Alive on New York Subway Identified as Debrina Kawam
Police say the woman is Debrina Kawam, 57, from Toms River, a town in New Jersey. Kawam was set on fire and died on a subway train in Brooklyn, New York, on December 22.
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| a woman was burned to death |
Officials couldn't identify Kawam's body for days because it was so badly burned. The NYPD has not given an official cause of death.
| Officials used fingerprint data, dental records and DNA evidence to identify Kawam, and said she was believed to have been homeless. She was originally from Tom's River, New Jersey. |
A homeless non-profit group, Coalition for the Homeless, suggested she might have been homeless. Police could not confirm if she was homeless.
Learn more: Who was Debrina Kawam: From a Modest Apartment in Atlantic to Homeless in New York
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| Horrifying images show maniac Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, accused of burning woman to death on NYC subway, watching her burn before telling cops he doesn’t remember it |
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The New York Post, citing police sources, reports that Kawam had been living in New York City shelters since at least September 9 and was given a bed at a women’s shelter in the Bronx on November 30 but left on December 2.
Debrina Kawam was alive when she was set on fire, with a walker and several bags nearby.
Who was Debrina Kawam? Personal Photos, Biography, and Family
Mayor Adams said Tuesday that he knows little about her.
According to law enforcement sources, she had at least three previous encounters with the police: an alcohol-related transit offense on April 28, a disorderly conduct charge in Maryland in 2010, and a prostitution arrest in New Jersey in 1994.
“She lived in New Jersey and briefly stayed in our shelter system,” Mayor Eric Adams shared on Tuesday. “Our deepest sympathies go out to the family affected by this tragic event.
“This was an unfortunate incident that deeply affects how New Yorkers feel,” the mayor added. “It also underscores an important point: people should not be living in our subway system. They deserve to be in a safe, supportive environment.”
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| Portrait of Debrina Kawam from 1985 High School Yearbook |
The current occupant of a former residence of Kawam in Toms River, N.J., shared a peculiar encounter with the victim in May. Speaking to The Daily News, the resident, Olga, recounted how Kawam showed up at her doorstep asking for her family — weeks after they had moved out.
“She introduced herself, saying, ‘I’m Debrina. I’m the sister. I want to see my mother,’” Olga said. “She was an older woman, and I got the sense she might have been mentally impaired. It felt off—how could she not know her family no longer lived here? Something didn’t add up.”
Olga explained that she invited Kawam inside and attempted to contact her realtor, hoping they could provide a phone number for the family. When the realtor didn’t respond, Olga asked Kawam for her contact information to update her later.
“She told me she didn’t have a phone,” Olga said. “She kept saying, ‘I need to get one. I’ve got to get one.’”
Relatives of Kawam, when reached by phone on Tuesday, declined to comment immediately, explaining that authorities had just informed them she was the victim.
Tragic End for Debrina Kawam: Burned Alive in NYC Subway
Sebastian Zapeta, 33, a previously deported immigrant from Guatemala, was arrested hours after the incident, which shocked the nation. Zepeta is facing charges of murder and arson after the terrible incident.
Officials identified Kawam using fingerprint data, dental records, and DNA evidence. They believe she was homeless. She was originally from Tom's River, New Jersey.
Kawam was reportedly sleeping on the subway car around 7:30 am on Sunday at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn when she was set on fire.
Footage of the moments after Kawam was set on fire went viral. It showed an NYPD officer walking past the fire while a man, allegedly Zepeta, watched.
In recent days, social media platforms have been abuzz with discussions surrounding the tragic incident of a woman set ablaze in a New York City subway. Amidst the outcry, the name "Amelia Carter" has surfaced, with many asserting that she is the 29-year-old victim of this heinous act. This information has been widely disseminated online, despite the New York Police Department (NYPD) refraining from making any formal announcements regarding the victim's identity.
The incident in question involved a woman who was tragically set on fire while aboard a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. The suspect, identified as 33-year-old Guatemalan national Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, allegedly approached the woman, who appeared to be sleeping, and used a lighter to ignite her clothing. Disturbingly, he then sat on a nearby bench and watched as she became engulfed in flames. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene.
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