NEW YORK — The woman who was set on fire and burned to death in a New York City subway car has been identified as Debrina Kawam of Toms River, New Jersey, police said Tuesday.
Sebastian Zapeta is accused of setting the 61-year-old woman on fire as she slept inside a train car at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.
Prosecutors say he used a lighter to start the fire on Dec. 22 and then used a shirt to stoke the flames. The 33-year-old faces one count of first degree murderthree counts of second-degree murder and one count of first-degree arson.
“These are significant counts. First degree murder carries the possibility of life without parole. It is the most serious statute in New York State law, and my office is very confident in the evidence on this case and in our ability to hold Zapeta accountable for his dastardly deeds,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said when he announced the charges last week.
Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ office is seeking additional federal charges in the case.
“Lighting another human being on fire and watching them burn alive reflects a level of evil that cannot be tolerated,” the mayor’s office said in a statement last week.
Zapeta is scheduled to appear in court on January 7, when the indictment will be officially opened.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials say he entered the country illegally from Guatemala in 2018 and was deported, but re-entered a short time later.
Check back soon for the latest updates on this developing story.