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Police identify woman who was burned to death inside subway

NEW YORK (AP) — The woman who died after being set on fire in a New York subway train earlier this month was a 57-year-old from New Jersey, New York City police announced.

The woman, Debrina Kawam, was from Toms River, a township on the Jersey Shore, according to the NYPD. New York City Mayor Eric Adams added that Kawam had a “brief stint in our homeless shelter system,” though did not say when.

The man accused of lighting her on fire on Dec. 22, Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was taken into custody hours after police disseminated images of a suspect in the shocking Sunday morning attack on a train stopped in Brooklyn’s Coney Island. He has since been indicted on murder and arson charges.

Identifying the victim proved to be a challenge, and authorities said Friday they were still using forensics and video surveillance to trace her. Adams said he didn’t know more than Kawam’s name and New Jersey address, but said authorities had been in contact with her next of kin.

“Hearts go out to the family, a horrific incident to have to live through,” Adams said. “It impacts on how New Yorkers feel. But it really reinforces what I’ve been saying: People should not be living on our subway system, they should be in a place of care. No matter where she lived that should not have happened.”

Authorities have said they don’t believe Kawam and Zapeta knew each other. Federal immigration officials say Zapeta is from Guatemala and entered the U.S. illegally. An address for him given by police matches a shelter that provides housing.

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