Cause of Death Revealed for Woman Set on Fire on N.Y.C. Subway

Authorities in New York have released the cause and manner of death of a woman who was set aflame inside a subway car earlier this month.

Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old resident of New Jersey, died from “thermal and inhalational injuries,” the New York City Chief Medical Examiner confirmed to PEOPLE on Tuesday.

Thermal burns can occur when heat sources, upon contact with the skin, raises the temperature of the skin and tissues, resulting in tissue cell death or charring.

Inhalational injuries can result from breathing in toxic substances, such as smoke (from fires), which affects the respiratory system and lungs.

Kawam’s manner of death has been ruled a homicide, per the ME’s office.

Kawam was identified as the victim by police on Tuesday, Dec. 31; the significant burns about her body made identifying her difficult, but a breakthrough came from a positive fingerprint match, the ME’s office said.

Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, was arrested following the attack and has since been indicted on murder and arson charges in connection with the killing.

The incident occurred on Dec. 22 while Kawam was asleep on an F train in Brooklyn’s Coney Island; the suspect “calmly” approached her, New York Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch said at a press conference last week.

NYPD Chief of Transit Joseph M. Gulotta said at the press conference that Kawam was sitting “motionless” when the suspect approached her, and there was no interaction between the two prior to the attack.

The suspect then allegedly used what investigators believe was a lighter to set fire to Kawam’s clothing which was “fully engulfed in flames in a matter of seconds,” Tisch said. 

Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE’s free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases.

Kawam was a resident of Toms River, N.J., per the NYPD.

Zapata has been indicted on charges of first-degree murder, second-degree murder and first-degree arson, which could land him in prison for life without parole. He has not yet entered a plea, and is due back in court on Jan. 7.