NEW YORK — The woman who was set on fire and burned to death on a New York City subway automotive has been recognized as Debrina Kawam, of Toms River, New Jersey, police mentioned Tuesday.
Sebastian Zapeta is accused of setting the 61-year-old girl on fireplace whereas she was sleeping inside a prepare automotive on the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn.
Prosecutors say he used a lighter to start out the fireplace on Dec. 22 and then used a shirt to fan the flames. The 33-year-old is going through one count of first-degree murder, three counts of second-degree homicide and one depend of first-degree arson.
“These are vital counts. Murder within the first diploma carries the potential of life with out parole. It’s essentially the most severe statute in New York state regulation, and my workplace could be very assured concerning the proof on this case and our means to carry Zapeta accountable for his dastardly deeds,” Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez mentioned when he introduced the costs final week.
Meanwhile, New York City Mayor Eric Adams’ workplace is pushing for extra federal costs within the case.
“Lighting one other human being on fireplace and watching them burn alive displays a degree of evil that can not be tolerated,” the mayor’s workplace mentioned in a press release final week.
Zapeta is scheduled to be arraigned on Jan. 7, when the indictment will formally be unsealed.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers say he entered the nation illegally from Guatemala in 2018 and was deported, however he reentered someday afterwards.
Check again quickly for the most recent updates on this creating story.
