Woman burned to death on New York subway identified
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A 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen, Sebastian Zapeta, has been charged with murder and arson.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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NEW YORK - A woman who died after being set on fire on the New York City subway in December was identified as Ms Debrina Kawam, 57, of Toms River, New Jersey, the New York medical examiner’s office said on Dec 31.
Ms Kawam was identified through fingerprint analysis, and her death from thermal and inhalation injuries was ruled a homicide, said Ms Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the Office of Chief Medical Examiner.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Kawam “had a brief stint in our homeless shelter system”, without giving further details.
Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan citizen, was charged with murder and arson lighting Kawam on fire
Zapeta was arrested about six hours after police say he used a lighter to ignite the clothes of Ms Kawam, who appeared to be dozing on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue stop in Brooklyn.
The suspect entered the US without authorisation in 2018 and was deported to Guatemala a few days later.
It was unclear when he unlawfully re-entered, the US Department of Homeland Security said.
There appeared to have been no prior interaction between the assailant, a Brooklyn man, and Ms Kawam, police have said.
The Department of Homeland Security statement said it would pursue removal proceedings again whenever Zapeta is released from New York custody, which could include a lengthy prison sentence if he is convicted. REUTERS
