NJ WOMAN FATALLY SET ON FIRE ON NYC SUBWAY; SUSPECT INDICTED FOR MURDER
A 57-year-old woman from Toms River, New Jersey, who was fatally set on fire in a New York City subway has been identified as Debrina Kawam, police confirmed Tuesday.
Kawam was asleep on an idle F train at Brooklyn’s Stillwell Avenue station on Dec. 22 around 7:30 a.m. when a man set her on fire and fled, according to the NYPD. A vigil was held for her on Thursday.
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, a Guatemalan citizen, was arrested the same day after being captured on police body camera footage. Subway riders later recognized him and called 911, leading to his arrest.
Zapeta-Calil was indicted Friday on four counts of murder and one count of arson, including charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree arson, the Brooklyn District Attorney’s office announced.