Debrina Kawan met a tragic end on December 22, 2024. She was asleep on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn when someone set her on fire. The 57-year-old woman’s “million-dollar smile” touched many hearts before she became the victim of a horrific attack that left New York City in shock and raised serious questions about public safety.
The story behind Debrina Kawan’s headline reveals a complex life. She once enjoyed cheerleading in her younger years and maintained a cheerful personality despite life’s challenges. Her financial situation had become difficult by the time of her death. She had about $90,000 in debt and owned just a few possessions – an $800 Dodge Neon, a television, a $300 futon, and some clothes. She had also spent some time in New York City’s shelter system.
The attack happened quietly. A man approached her as she slept on the subway train and used a lighter to set her clothes ablaze. The medical examiner confirmed that thermal injuries and smoke inhalation caused her death. This case has drawn much attention as part of a troubling pattern – the NYPD recorded ten murders in the subway system during 2024, reaching levels not seen since 1997.
A Life Remembered: Who Was Debrina Kawan?
A woman’s tragic subway death in New York City painted a stark contrast to her bright beginnings. Debrina Kawan’s story started in Little Falls, New Jersey, miles away from where her life would come to its devastating end.
Her childhood in New Jersey
People knew her as Debbie Kawam back then. She grew up in a loving home in suburban New Jersey. Her personality left deep impressions on everyone she met. Her high school yearbook captured a touching message to her parents: “THANX Mom & Dad for everything”. These simple words revealed the loving foundation that shaped her youth before life grew complicated.
High school memories and personality
Debbie’s vibrant energy and unforgettable presence made her stand out at Passaic Valley Regional High School. She graduated in 1985, leaving a yearbook full of memories that showed the real Debrina Kawan. Her classmates remembered her “million-dollar smile”, a trait that captured her youthful spirit.
She had a rebellious streak that earned her the yearbook title of “most punk”. Led Zeppelin posters covered her room’s walls, showing her love for music. Her natural enthusiasm shone through as she cheered for school teams.
Her yearbook revealed an interesting mix of dreams. She wanted to become an “Airline Stewardess”, while her secret wish written boldly stated “TO PARTY FOREVER”. This contrast hinted at the complex journey ahead.
Changing her name and identity
Debbie became Debrina legally in 2003 at age 35. Friends saw this name change as a turning point in what they called “a tale of two lives”. The happy young woman who served customers with a warm smile at Perkins Pancake House and enjoyed Caribbean getaways slowly changed into someone battling life’s hardships.
That cheerful teen who “took a bite out of life whenever she could” faced circumstances that changed her path. She found herself in New York City’s shelter system and later on the subway where her story reached its tragic end.
The Downward Spiral: From Joy to Struggle
The early 2000s changed Debrina Kawan’s life forever. She started a downward spiral that ended up leading her to the New York City subway system.
Financial troubles and debt
Records show Debrina racked up about $90,000 in debt. Two casinos in an east coast resort city won judgments against her that exceeded $10,000 by 2007. She filed for bankruptcy the next year and told the court she wasn’t working “due to illness”. Her belongings shrank to just a Dodge Neon worth $800, a television, a $300 futon, and some clothes.
Battling addiction and legal issues
Debrina’s financial struggles came with substance abuse problems. Court documents reveal her battle with alcohol addiction led to dozens of summonses for public drinking and disorderly conduct along the Jersey Shore in the mid-2010s. These legal troubles made her difficult situation worse and created a cycle she couldn’t break free from.
Losing family connections
Debrina’s family ties crumbled during this difficult period. She tried to reconnect with her mother in Toms River, New Jersey in spring 2024, only to find that her mother had sold their home and moved away. This failed attempt at family reunion left her more isolated than ever.
Entering the shelter system
Debrina became homeless by fall 2024. An outreach team at Grand Central Terminal found her and brought her into New York City’s shelter system. Mayor Eric Adams later confirmed her “brief stint” in the city’s shelters. She never showed up at her assigned Bronx facility. Reports indicate she found the shelters “so terrifying that life on the subway seemed better”.
The Subway Tragedy That Shook NYC
The brutal attack at Coney Island subway station on December 22 stands as one of the most shocking events in recent New York City history. This tragedy changed how New Yorkers view transit safety across the five boroughs.
What happened on December 22
That morning turned deadly when Debrina Kawan slept on a stationary F train at Brooklyn’s Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station. A man walked up to her and set her clothes and blanket on fire with a lighter. Security cameras showed the attacker sitting on a bench opposite the subway car as he watched Kawan burn. The scene became more horrific when he came back to the train and used a jacket or blanket to fan the flames aggressively. No one stepped in to help her, and she died before officers could arrive with fire extinguishers.
How she was identified
The victim’s identity remained a mystery for over a week. The intense fire left investigators with little evidence to work with. They had to use sophisticated fingerprinting methods, dental records, and DNA testing to confirm who she was. The medical examiner’s report showed she died from burns and smoke inhalation, ruling it a homicide.
Who is Sebastian Zapeta-Calil?
The accused murderer, 33-year-old Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, came to the US illegally from Guatemala. He had been deported in 2018 but made his way back into the country. Before the attack, he lived in a Brooklyn shelter for men with substance abuse issues. Three high school students spotted him from police surveillance photos and turned him in hours after the attack.
Legal charges and court proceedings
Prosecutors charged Zapeta-Calil with first and second-degree murder plus arson. A first-degree murder conviction could put him behind bars for life without parole. During police questioning, he said he couldn’t remember anything because he had been drinking. When police showed him the surveillance footage, he just said “Oh, damn, that’s me”. He pleaded not guilty to everything on January 7 and remains in jail without bail.
The Aftermath: Public Outcry and Political Response
Debrina Kawan’s brutal death sparked outrage throughout New York City. Officials faced tough questions about transit system safety and protection of vulnerable people.
Mayor Eric Adams’ statement
After confirming Kawan’s identity, Mayor Eric Adams acknowledged her “brief stint” in the city’s shelter system. He stated that “people should not be living on our subway system. They should be in a place of care”. During his weekly news briefing, Adams talked about safety perceptions. He pointed out that there are “only six daily crimes on the subway that also has four million daily riders”. The statistics brought little comfort after such tragedies. Adams admitted, “If someone is burned in the subway system and you tell them that crime is down the lowest since 2009… people don’t want to hear that”.
Community mourning and media coverage
The brutal attack left the community shocked and outraged. Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez found the crime “difficult to fathom” and called it a “malicious deed” against “a sleeping, vulnerable woman”. Congressman Ritchie Torres slammed Governor Kathy Hochul’s celebratory social media posts on the day of Kawan’s identification. He called it “the ultimate form of gaslighting”. Olga Corpion, who had met Kawan earlier in 2024, said she was “in shock that she was standing right here, and then I found out she died so horribly”.
Increased police presence in subways
Governor Hochul responded to the tragedy with a $77 million subway safety plan. The strategy included 750 extra police officers on platforms and stations, plus 300 more officers on overnight trains. Hochul stated, “We’ve doubled the number of law enforcement personnel in the New York City subway system in one year”.
Debrina’s story as a symbol of systemic failure
Kawan’s death revealed deep-rooted problems in the system. Critics noted that officers at the scene failed to help Kawan or detain Zapeta-Calil right away. This tragedy pushed Hochul to suggest broader laws for involuntary mental health facility admission. The case exposed the city’s inability to handle homelessness effectively. One statement highlighted how the incident “underscores how badly our City and State have failed in addressing the inexcusable lack of affordable housing”.
Conclusion
Debrina Kawan’s story shows how life can change in unimaginable ways. This cheerful teenager with a “million-dollar smile” who dreamed of becoming an airline stewardess ended up meeting a horrific end on a subway train. Her trip from suburban New Jersey to homelessness in New York City reveals one woman’s struggles and exposes huge gaps in social safety nets.
People rarely notice those living on the streets until tragedy strikes. Kawan’s death forced New Yorkers to face hard truths about public safety and protecting vulnerable people. The city responded by deploying more police officers throughout the subway system, but this only addressed part of a bigger failure.
Beyond the statistics and policy talks lies the reality of a woman who found shelter systems “so terrifying that life on the subway seemed better.” Her death raises serious questions about how current approaches to homelessness, mental health support, and addiction services don’t work.
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil faces serious charges for this horrific act, but the responsibility goes beyond just one person. This case also shows how multiple systems failed – from immigration enforcement to homeless services, public safety protocols, and mental health care all played a part in this tragedy.
The most disturbing fact remains that Kawan died alone, with no one stepping in to help and authorities arriving too late. This shows a failure not just of institutions but of basic human compassion and community responsibility.
Debrina Kawan’s tragic end changed New York City forever, not just as another subway crime statistic. Her story demands we examine how society treats its most vulnerable members. The legacy of her life and death now pushes city leaders and citizens to build systems that truly protect those with nowhere else to turn.
FAQs
Q1. Who was Debrina Kawan? Debrina Kawan was a 57-year-old woman who tragically lost her life in a New York City subway incident. Originally from New Jersey, she was known for her “million-dollar smile” in her youth but later faced financial struggles and homelessness.
Q2. What happened to Debrina Kawan? On December 22, 2024, Debrina Kawan was set on fire while sleeping on a stationary F train at the Coney Island-Stillwell Avenue station in Brooklyn. She died from thermal injuries and smoke inhalation.
Q3. How did this incident impact New York City? The tragedy sparked public outcry, leading to increased police presence in the subway system and renewed discussions about public safety, homelessness, and mental health support in the city.
Q4. Who was responsible for Debrina Kawan’s death? Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, a 33-year-old undocumented immigrant from Guatemala, was charged with first and second-degree murder and arson in connection with Debrina Kawan’s death.
Q5. What measures were taken after the incident? In response to the tragedy, Governor Hochul announced a $77 million strategy to improve subway safety, including deploying additional police officers on platforms, stations, and overnight trains.