Police Identify Woman Set On Fire In New York City Subway

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The New York City subway train in Brooklyn has left the public in shock and mourning. The victim, Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old woman from New Jersey, was horrifically set on fire and burnt to death in what appears to be a random attack on 22 December.

The perpetrator, Sebastian Zapeta, 33, allegedly started the blaze while Ms. Kawam was asleep, fanning the flames and watching them grow from outside the subway car.

After a painstaking effort by authorities, Debrina Kawam was identified through fingerprint analysis, confirming her identity for the public.

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Julie Bolcer, a spokesperson for New York City’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner, declared the death a homicide caused by thermal and inhalational injuries.

Meanwhile, Sebastian Zapeta, who claims to have no memory of the incident, has been indicted on four counts of murder and one count of arson.

The tragic event sparked a mix of false information and genuine support from the community. While false details circulated online, including a fake AI-generated picture of the victim, a heartfelt vigil was held for the then-unidentified victim.

Authorities, including Brooklyn district attorney Eric Gonzalez, worked diligently to collect DNA evidence and fingerprints to identify the woman and notify her family.

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written by @enock katamba

enock katamba

Enock Katamba is a Ugandan Journalist and Founder of Uncovered UG, an independent digital news platform covering Uganda and international developments. He reports on politics, national affairs, entertainment, sports, business, education and other stories of public interest.