Woman Fatally Set on Fire in New York City Subway Car Identified [View all]
The Guardian, Dec. 31, 2024. It took nine days to identify Debrina Kawam, 57, of Toms River, New Jersey, after she burned to death in Brooklyn.
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The woman who was set on fire in a subway car in New York on 22 December, horrifying New Yorkers and renewing a debate over city safety, has been identified as 57-year-old Debrina Kawam, of Toms River, New Jersey.
The victim’s identity, released by the New York police department, came nine days after the fatal incident. Investigators had previously said they were using forensics and video surveillance to identify the victim.
Eric Adams, the New York City mayor, said Tuesday that Kawam had a “brief stint in our homeless shelter system” and that authorities had been in contact with her next of kin. He did not say when Kawam was in the homeless system.
The man accused of lighting her on fire, Sebastián Zapeta, was taken into custody hours after police disseminated images of a suspect in the woman’s death. He has since been indicted on murder and arson charges and is expected to appear in court next week...
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2024/dec/31/woman-set-on-fire-in-new-york-city-subway-identified
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