Authorities in New York City have identified the victim of a deadly subway attack on December 22 as Debrina Kawam, 57, of New Jersey. Kawam was set on fire in a seemingly random assault, with her body burned beyond recognition.

Police have charged 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta with murder and arson in connection with the attack. Authorities allege that Zapeta used a lighter to ignite flames while Kawam was asleep on a stationary subway train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue Station. He is accused of fanning the fire with a shirt and watching it grow from a bench outside the subway car. Prosecutors say Zapeta claims to have no memory of the incident.

Julie Bolcer, a spokesperson for New York City’s Office of Chief Medical Examiner, confirmed that Kawam’s death resulted from “thermal and inhalational injuries.” Her identity was verified through fingerprint analysis after a week-long, multi-agency effort.

At a press conference, New York City Mayor Eric Adams emphasized the tragedy of the incident, noting that Kawam had recently stayed in a city homeless shelter. “This reinforces what I’ve been saying—people should not be living on our subway system; they should be in a place of care,” Adams stated. “No matter where she lived, this should not have happened.”

Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez underscored the importance of identifying Kawam and notifying her family, calling it a top priority for his office and law enforcement.

Despite the delay in identifying Kawam, a vigil was held in her honor while she remained unidentified. The case also sparked the spread of unverified claims and an AI-generated image of the victim on social media, which officials debunked.

According to police, Kawam appeared motionless and asleep on the train when Zapeta allegedly attacked her. Investigators believe the two were strangers and had no prior interaction. The smell of smoke drew police officers and Metropolitan Transit Authority staff to the scene, where they extinguished the fire. Kawam was pronounced dead at the scene.

New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch described the incident as a horrifying crime, highlighting the swift response of officers and transit staff.

Zapeta was indicted last week on four counts of murder and one count of arson. He remains in custody as authorities continue to investigate the shocking attack.