Sebastian Zapeta, the individual accused of setting a woman ablaze on the New York City subway, is expected to attend his first court hearing on Tuesday morning following his indictment on murder and arson charges.

On December 22, the 33-year-old Zapeta, originally from Guatemala, allegedly ignited the clothing of a sleeping woman. He reportedly used his shirt to fan the fire while remaining seated on a nearby bench as the flames consumed her. Law enforcement officials, who noticed smoke at a Brooklyn subway station, responded promptly but were unable to extinguish the fire before the woman tragically lost her life.

The official indictment will be revealed on Tuesday morning, according to Oren Yaniv, Director of Communications for the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. This incident is among various subway-related cases that have gained significant media attention in recent months.

A grand jury charged Zapeta with one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder, along with first-degree arson. He chose not to attend the hearing on December 27.

Authorities Confirm Identity of Subway Fire Victim

The victim has been identified as 57-year-old Debrina Kawam from Toms River, New Jersey, situated on the state’s central Jersey Shore. At a press conference, NYC Mayor Eric Adams noted that Kawam had briefly accessed the city’s homeless shelter system but did not clarify whether she was currently homeless.

Some witnesses, referring to video evidence, criticized police officers for appearing to do nothing while the fire spread. The police stated that one officer seen in the footage near Kawam was attempting to manage the crime scene while others sought fire extinguishers and called for Metropolitan Transit Authority staff. NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch remarked that Kawam was “completely engulfed in a matter of seconds.” Although the police extinguished the blaze, Kawam was pronounced dead at the scene.

Suspect’s Immigration Status Revealed

Zapeta, facing a first-degree murder charge that could result in a life sentence without parole, was in the U.S. illegally after being deported in 2018. He had been residing in a homeless shelter in Brooklyn, officials reported.

There remains uncertainty regarding any relationship between Kawam and Zapeta, and authorities have yet to disclose a motive in this tragic case.

Zapeta was arrested hours following the incident on December 22, after teenagers in Midtown Manhattan recognized him on the subway and alerted the authorities. His attorney has not yet responded to inquiries for comments.