By Andrew Hay
(Reuters) – A woman who died after being burned on a New York City subway earlier this month has been identified as Debrina Kawam, 57, of Toms River, New Jersey, the New York medical examiner's office said on Tuesday.
Kawam was identified through fingerprint analysis and his death from heat and asphyxiation injuries was ruled a homicide, said Julie Bolcer, a spokeswoman for the Chief's Office. Medical (TASE:) Tester.
New York City Mayor Eric Adams said Kawam “has a short tenure in our homeless system,” without providing further details.
Sebastian Zapeta, a 33-year-old Guatemalan, has been charged with murder and arson after allegedly setting Kawam on fire and watching him die in a subway station.
Zapeta was arrested about six hours after police say he used a lighter to light the clothes of Kawam, who appeared to be dozing on the F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.
The suspect entered the US without authorization in 2018 and was deported to Guatemala a few days later. It is not clear when he entered illegally, the US Department of Defense said.
There appears to be no previous connection between the attacker, a Brooklyn man, and Kawam, police said.
A statement from the Department of Homeland Security said it would pursue extradition proceedings once Zapeta is released from New York custody, which could include a lengthy sentence if convicted.