The man accused of setting a woman on fire on a New York City subway car just before Christmas pleaded not guilty Tuesday morning. Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was indicted last month on four counts of murder and one count of arson in the death of 57-year-old Debrina Kawam.

Prosecutors say Sebastian Zapeta intentionally lit Debrina Kawam on fire while she was sleeping on board an F train at the Coney island-Stillwell Avenue station on December 22, 2024. CBS News New York's Natalie Duddridge reports from his arraignment.

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.

The woman who was set on fire on the NYC subway has been identified as Debrina Kawam, of Toms River, New Jersey, police say.

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.

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.

Calil, “calmly” walked up to 61-year-old Debrina Kawam of Toms River, New Jersey, while she was sleeping on the F train at

Sebastian Zapeta, the man accused of setting a woman on fire on the NYC subway, is due in court in the death of Debrina Kawam.

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 accused of setting a woman on fire inside a New York City subway told detectives, “Oh, damn, that’s me,” when he saw video of the attack but said he couldn’t remember anything, according to a transcript released Tuesday.