The woman who tragically lost her life in a subway arson attack in Brooklyn has been identified as Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old from Toms River, New Jersey, according to police. The identification was made through fingerprint analysis, over a week after the horrifying incident occurred.
Kawam, who was reportedly homeless, was sleeping on an F train at the Stillwell Avenue-Coney Island station on the morning of December 22 when she was allegedly set ablaze by Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, an undocumented immigrant from Guatemala. Zapeta-Calil is now facing first-degree murder charges for the gruesome act.
Disturbing footage from the incident shows the accused calmly observing the fire as it consumed Kawam. The video has left viewers and the local community in shock.
The news of Kawam’s identity came as a surprise to Olga Corpion, a resident of Toms River who purchased the house previously owned by Kawam’s mother. Corpion recalled an unexpected visit from Kawam after she bought the house, which was listed as Kawam’s last known address.
Corpion described Kawam as appearing well-dressed and not homeless during their brief interaction. She even had an Uber waiting for her, leading Corpion to believe she might have come from an assisted living facility.
Another neighbor, Valerie Waskiewicz, remembered Kawam as a caregiver for an older woman, presumably her mother. Waskiewicz expressed shock and disbelief at the tragic circumstances of Kawam’s death.
According to sources, Kawam had been residing in shelters in New York City since at least September. She had been assigned a bed at the Franklin Williams Women’s Shelter in the Bronx in late November but left shortly after. Kawam had a few previous encounters with law enforcement, including a transit violation for alcohol, a disorderly conduct charge in Maryland, and a prostitution charge in New Jersey.
Mayor Eric Adams expressed his condolences to Kawam’s family and reiterated his stance that the subway system is not a suitable place for people to live. He emphasized the need for proper care facilities for the homeless.
The city medical examiner had difficulty identifying Kawam due to the severity of her burns. Meanwhile, Zapeta-Calil, who is facing murder and arson charges, is currently being held at Rikers Island without bail. He had previously been deported in 2018 after entering the U.S. illegally but managed to return.
A friend from the shelter where Zapeta-Calil last resided described him as a heavy drinker and user of the synthetic drug K2. He allegedly told police he was so intoxicated at the time of the attack that he doesn’t remember setting the fire.