Court records and official announcements from the District Attorney's office

NYPD Identifies Subway Fire Victim as 61-Year-Old Debrina Kawam of Toms River

Dec 31, 2024, 05:01 PM

The New York City Police Department has identified the woman who was set on fire and killed on a subway train on December 22 as 61-year-old Debrina Kawam of Toms River, New Jersey. Kawam, who was homeless and used a walker, was attacked while sleeping on a Brooklyn-bound train with all her belongings. Her body was so severely burned that it took authorities several days to confirm her identity using dental records. A suspect was arrested shortly after the incident and is believed to have carried out the unprovoked attack. Police are investigating the motive behind the crime.