In December 2024, a woman was brutally set on fire in a New York City subway. She has now been identified as 57-year-old Toms River, New Jersey, resident Debrina Kawam. As the NYPD and Mayor Eric Adams spoke to the press, they explained more details about the terrifying crime.

The woman who was set on fire on the NYC subway has been identified as Debrina Kawam, of Toms River, New Jersey, police say.

NEW YORK (TNND) — The woman who died after being set on fire inside a New York subway car has been identified, according to police. Debrina Kawam, 61, of Toms River, New Jersey was identified by the New York Police Department as the victim, ABC News reported.

A 57-year-old New Jersey woman has been identified as the woman who was set on fire and burned to death on a New York City subway car. Debrina Kawam, of Toms River, New Jersey, was sleeping inside a train car at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn on December 22 when the horrific incident occurred.

Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of setting a woman on fire on the NYC subway, is due in court in the death of Debrina Kawam.

The suspect is accused of setting a sleeping woman's clothes on fire, using his shirt to fan the flames and then sitting on a platform bench nearby.

Prosecutors say the man lit a New Jersey native on fire on a stopped F train at Brooklyn’s Coney Island station in late December.

A man pleaded not guilty on Tuesday to setting a sleeping woman on fire, killing her aboard a New York City subway train.