The sleeping subway passenger who was burned to dying on a Brooklyn F prepare had aspirations to be a flight attendant and was identified for her “million greenback smile,” in accordance with her highschool yearbook biography.
Debrina Kawam, identified to her classmates as “Debbie” or “Deb,” graduated from Passaic Valley Regional Faculty in Little Falls, New Jersey, in 1985, the New York Instances reported.
Kawam, 57, later fell on exhausting instances: Sources stated she was dwelling in New York Metropolis homeless shelters from September till Dec. 2.
Her horrific dying shocked town — and the nation.
Unlawful Guatemalan immigrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is charged with setting her on fireplace round 7:30 a.m. Dec. 22 on an F prepare within the Stillwell Avenue-Coney Island station.
She was asleep on the prepare when she was set ablaze, video exhibits.
Kawam, who was initially from Toms River, stated her reminiscences on the public faculty have been collaborating in freshman and sophomore cheerleading and that her secret ambition was “to celebration endlessly.”
She signed off her biography thanking her mother and father “for the whole lot.”
Kawam was one in all three college students who earned the superlative of “million greenback smile” and “most punk,” in accordance 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 bear in mind the assault.
Zapeta-Calil faces as much as life in jail with out the opportunity of parole if he’s convicted on the highest rely of first-degree homicide, Brooklyn District Legal professional Eric Gonzalez stated.
“It’s the most severe statute in New York state regulation, and my workplace could be very assured in regards to the proof on this case and our capacity to carry Zapeta accountable for his dastardly deeds,” Gonzalez stated.
Toms River resident Olga Corpion had bought the home Kawam’s mom as soon as lived in and stated she met Debrina shortly after Corpion moved into the neighborhood in Could.
“She stated, ‘Hello, my title is Debrina, and I need to go see my mother. My mom lives right here. I need to speak to her,’” Corpion instructed The Publish.
“She regarded like she was in her 50s, so immediately I assumed she was not properly, as a result of she didn’t know her mother had moved.
“I’m in shock that she was standing proper right here after which I came upon she died so horribly.”
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