Woman Burned to Death in NYC Subway Identified as Debrina Kawam
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| The supposed image of "Amelia Carter" appears to be an AI-generated hoax behind which a cryptocurrency is being sold; police on December 31 identified the victim as Debrina Kawam. |
Debrina Kawam - Woman burned to death on New York Subway
The woman who tragically died after being set on fire in the New York City subway earlier this month has been identified as 57-year-old Debrina Kawam of Toms River, New Jersey, the city’s medical examiner’s office confirmed on Tuesday.
Kawam was identified using fingerprint analysis, and her death was ruled a homicide caused by thermal and inhalation injuries, according to Julie Bolcer, spokeswoman for the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams revealed that Kawam had "a brief stint in our homeless shelter system," though he did not provide additional details.
Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old citizen of Guatemala, has been charged with murder and arson in connection with the incident. Authorities allege that Zapeta used a lighter to ignite Kawam’s clothing while she appeared to be asleep on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.
Zapeta was apprehended approximately six hours after the attack, during which he reportedly watched as Kawam was engulfed in flames.
 Who was Debrina Kawam from New Jersey? Woman Burned to Death on NYC Subway |
 Debrina Kawam from a Modest Apartment in Atlantic to Homeless in New York |
Who Is The Woman Killed In The Subway Fire?
According to the latest update from the New York Police Department (NYPD), the identity of the woman involved is still being confirmed.
The victim, who was burned beyond recognition in the attack, was pronounced dead at the scene—an F train stationed at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue terminal.
NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph M. Gulotta stated that there is no indication the woman and the suspect, Zapeta, were acquainted. He also confirmed that the two had no interaction prior to the incident.
While it remains unclear whether the woman was homeless, the NYPD has urged New Yorkers to contact 311 if they encounter unhoused individuals sleeping outdoors in freezing temperatures, so they can be connected to shelter services.
| So far, authorities have not revealed any information about the victim in the case. According to the criminal complaint, she has yet to be identified and is referred to as Jane Doe. The medical examiner's office claims she died as a result of burn injuries and smoke inhalation, according to the criminal complaint. According to police, Zapeta and the victim did not know each other and had no interactions prior to the killing. |
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| Social Platforms: Amelia Carter, 29 years, burned alive in the New York Metro by an illegal from Guatemala |
The NYC Subway Burning Victim’s ID: Amelia Carter
The subway burning victim’s name was Amelia Carter, a 29-year-old woman.
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.
The rapid spread of Amelia Carter's name across platforms such as X (formerly Twitter) and Facebook has raised significant concerns about privacy, the ethics of information sharing, and the potential consequences of unverified data circulating in the public domain.
Video - An alleged NYPD officer walks right past the woman burning alive on the subway:
Who is Amelia Carter
According to some social media accounts, Amelia Carter, a dedicated nurse originally from Orlando, Florida, had been working at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City since her move to the city two years ago to advance her career. On the day of the tragic incident, she was reportedly on her way to visit her grandmother in Queens, as shared by her boyfriend, Shaun Michael.
Another X account "SV News" reported: "Amelia Cater had a very bright future, being a graduate of SUNY purchase and obtaining her PHD from UPenn".
| Amelia Carter '18 is enrolled full-time at the University of Pennsylvania, where she is pursuing a PhD in History and Sociology of Science. She is interested in post-industrial leisure cultures, critical cultural geography, queer ecology, and the development of cartographic technology. Carter previously received her Master of Science in Environmental Humanities from the University of Utah in 2023. She successfully defended her thesis, "Gazing at Queer Ecological Precarity: A Fugitive Map of Fire Island, New York," which explores the intersection of colonialism, class, and climate on Fire Island, a historically LGBTQ-friendly barrier island located about 40 miles east of the largest city in America. She (de)constructs Queer Ecology upon shifting beach sands by looking at National Park Service place-making initiatives along the Seashore and private property regimes. Carter established and oversaw the FreeStore, a useful campus resource that is still in operation today, and received the Outstanding Junior and Senior Awards in Media Society & the Arts while he was at Purchase. |
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| Amelia Cater had a very bright future |
The heartbreaking event occurred on December 22, 2024, when Amelia was set on fire while resting on an F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.
Fact-Check: Fake Identity of NYC Subway Fire Victim Goes Viral
The suspect, 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, allegedly approached Amelia and used a lighter to ignite her clothing. Despite attempts to extinguish the flames, emergency medical services pronounced her dead at the scene.
Zapeta was swiftly apprehended after high school students identified him from surveillance footage. He was found sitting on a nearby bench and arrested without resistance. A lighter was recovered from his possession during the arrest.
Authorities are continuing their investigation, and while initial speculation suggested the victim may have been homeless, police are working to verify all details and establish a complete understanding of the events surrounding this devastating attack.
Conclusion
Reputable social media accounts are the only source of information regarding the identity of the female victim who was burned to death on the New York subway. The New York police have yet to release official details regarding the victim's identity and personal life.
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