Woman Burned To Death On NYC Subway Train Identified As Toms River Resident

A shocking and horrific incident unfolded last week Sunday morning when a woman was burned alive aboard a New York City subway train. The NYPD has now identified the victim as 61-year-old Debrina Kawam of Toms River, New Jersey.

The suspect, 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta, an illegal immigrant from Guatemala, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, second-degree murder, and first-degree arson. The gruesome attack occurred around 7:30 a.m. on an F train idling at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.

According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the suspect calmly approached Kawam, who was seated and asleep, and used a lighter to set her clothing on fire. Commuters and MTA workers were horrified as flames engulfed the victim within seconds.

Patrolling officers noticed smoke coming from the train, rushed to the scene, and extinguished the blaze, but Kawam was pronounced dead at the station.

Footage from the scene showed the suspect watching as the woman burned, even fanning the flames with a piece of cloth before sitting back down on a nearby bench.

Zapeta was taken into custody Monday afternoon at the 60th Precinct.

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