The sleeping subway passenger who was burned to demise on a Brooklyn F practice had aspirations to be a flight attendant and was identified for her “million dollar smile,” in keeping with her highschool yearbook biography.
Debrina Kawam, identified to her classmates as “Debbie” or “Deb,” graduated from Passaic Valley Regional College in Little Falls, New Jersey in 1985, the New York Occasions reported.
Kawam, 57, later fell on onerous occasions — sources mentioned she was residing in New York Metropolis homeless shelters from September till Dec. 2.
Her horrific demise shocked the town — and the nation.
Unlawful Guatemalan immigrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is charged with setting her on hearth round 7:30 a.m. on an F practice within the Stillwell Avenue-Coney Island station on Dec. 22.
She was asleep on the practice when she was set ablaze, video exhibits.
Kawam, who was initially from Toms River, mentioned her reminiscences on the public college had been collaborating in freshman and sophomore cheerleading and that her secret ambition was “to party forever.”
She signed off her biography thanking her dad and mom “for everything.”
Kawam was considered one of three college students who earned the superlative of “million dollar smile” and “most punk,” in keeping with the outlet.
Kawam’s physique was ID’d by fingerprints greater than per week after the horrific tragedy.
Zapeta-Calil, 33, who was deported in 2018 however sneaked again into the US, was indicted on first and second-degree homicide and one rely of arson on Dec. 27.
He claimed he was too drunk and didn’t keep in mind the assault.
Zapeta-Calil faces as much as life in jail with out the potential of parole if he’s convicted on the highest rely of first-degree homicide, Brooklyn District Legal professional Eric Gonzalez mentioned.
“It is the most serious statute in New York State law, and my office is very confident about the evidence in this case and our ability to hold Zapeta accountable for his dastardly deeds,” Gonzalez mentioned.
Toms River resident Olga Corpion had bought the home Kawam’s mom as soon as lived in and mentioned she met Debrina shortly after Corpion moved into the neighborhood in Might.
“She said, ‘Hi, my name is Debrina, and I want to go see my mom. My mother lives here. I want to talk to her,’” Corpion advised The Publish.
“She seemed like she was in her 50s, so straight away I assumed she was not nicely, as a result of she didn’t know her mother had moved.
“I’m in shock that she was standing right here and then I found out she died so horribly.”
