Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of setting a woman on fire on the NYC subway, pleads not guilty in the death of Debrina Kawam.

Authorities have released the identity of the sleeping woman burned to death inside a New York City subway train by a man who allegedly lit her on fire and stayed to watch the aftermath, officials said Tuesday.

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 burned to death on an F train in Brooklyn has been identified as a 57-year-old resident of Toms River, NJ. Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, is accused of setting the woman on fire while she was sleeping on an F train on Dec. 22. Zapeta-Calil faces multiple counts of murder and arson.

A 61-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.

The woman was identified as Debrina Kawam of Toms River, New Jersey. Mayor Adams said she had a "brief stint" in the city's shelter system.

The man accused of killing a woman sleeping on a New York City subway car by setting her on fire pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson at a court hearing on Tuesday. A grand jury has indicted Sebastian Zapeta,

Despite previously confirming his identity in surveillance footage, Sebastian Zapeta pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson.

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.

The man charged with burning a woman to death on a New York City subway train pleaded not guilty Tuesday to murder and arson charges.

The suspect accused of setting a woman on fire on the subway last month was back in court to plead “not guilty” just a short time ago. FOX 5 NY’s Michelle Ross has the details from the courtroom.