Sleeping Woman Burned Alive on NYC Subway Car

A shocking and unthinkable crime unfolded in the New York City subway system just days before Christmas. A woman, identified as Debrina Kawam, lost her life in a brutal attack that left her engulfed in flames as she slept on a stationary train. The incident has left New Yorkers reeling, sparking outrage and a renewed focus on subway safety.

The Chilling Incident

On the morning of Dec. 22, 2024, Kawam was asleep on an F train parked at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station when she was attacked. Prosecutors allege that 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta-Calil used a lighter to ignite her clothing and blanket, setting off a fire that ultimately consumed the subway car. According to Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez, Zapeta-Calil stayed to watch the flames grow, even fanning them before stepping onto the platform to observe the burning woman from a bench nearby.

Authorities found Kawam’s body burned beyond recognition. The medical examiner later identified her through forensic analysis, ruling her death a homicide caused by heat burns and smoke inhalation. “It is difficult to fathom what could lead someone to commit the atrocious and horrific murder with which this defendant is charged,” Gonzalez said, according to CNN.

Swift Justice

Hours after the attack, police released surveillance footage showing the suspect. Zapeta-Calil was arrested the same day when three high school students recognized him on another F train and notified authorities. During questioning, he initially claimed to have no memory of the attack, blaming alcohol for his lapses, according to court documents. However, when shown the video evidence, he reportedly responded, “Oh, [explitive], that’s me … I am very sorry. I didn’t mean to. But I really don’t know. I don’t know what happened, but I’m very sorry for that woman,” as reported by CNN.

Zapeta-Calil, an undocumented migrant from Guatemala, was deported in 2018 but returned to the U.S. illegally. At the time of his arrest, he was staying at a Brooklyn homeless shelter for men with substance abuse issues and working as a laborer in Queens. If convicted of the first-degree murder charges, he faces life in prison without parole.

Remembering Debrina Kawam

Kawam, 57, was originally from Toms River, New Jersey. She grew up in Little Falls and studied business and marketing at Montclair State University. Friends and family remembered her as kind and intelligent, though life’s challenges eventually led her into New York’s shelter system.

As Kawam’s family prepares to lay her to rest, the city continues to grapple with the horrific crime that claimed her life. Her death serves as a grim reminder of the fragility of life and the need for vigilance, justice, and compassion in a city known for its resilience.

References: Suspect in New York City subway burning death pleads not guilty to murder charge | Man accused of setting woman on fire on subway told police he didn’t remember it, court documents show. Then he saw the video