In a harrowing case that has shocked Brooklyn, a Guatemalan immigrant accused of brutally setting a woman on fire aboard a subway train was so intoxicated that he didn’t even recognize his own actions when shown video footage of the crime, newly released court records reveal.
Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, 33, allegedly had no memory of the December 22 attack on 57-year-old Debrina Kawam, a New Jersey woman, who was fatally burned while sleeping on the F train. According to transcripts from his stationhouse interview, the accused murderer was horrified when shown footage of the incident, reported the New York Post.
Accused killer’s shocking reaction to video footage
“Oh damn, that’s me!” Zapeta-Calil allegedly exclaimed when the video played. “No, the truth is I don’t remember. Oh my goodness!”
The Guatemalan national, who appeared visibly distressed, wiped his eyes and lowered his head as he processed the footage. His reaction — a combination of confusion, disbelief, and apparent shame — was captured in the newly unsealed interview, which took place hours after the chilling crime.
The disturbing incident unfolded in the early hours of December 22. Police say Zapeta-Calil, heavily intoxicated, sat next to Kawam, who was sleeping on the train at the Stillwell Avenue-Coney Island station. Without warning, he flicked a lighter and set her clothes on fire, before fanning the flames and callously watching her burn. Authorities say the woman was left to suffer in agony as the accused looked on.
Alcohol-induced blackouts: Accused blames drinking for memory loss of crime
In a haunting twist, Zapeta-Calil told detectives that his black-out drinking was the cause of his actions, admitting to a long history of binge drinking. “Sometimes when I drink and erase the memory, I don’t know, right?” he allegedly told officers, referring to his frequent alcohol-fueled lapses in memory.
“I drink in the afternoons. When I wake up, I’m already at the house, already sleeping. Or sometimes, I wake up, and I’m already at the train station,” Zapeta-Calil explained during his interview. “I was drunk. I don’t remember how I got on the F train. When I reacted, I was already on it.”
Zapeta-Calil, who entered the United States illegally five years ago, was no stranger to trouble with the law. Authorities said he initially tried to cross the US-Mexico border in 2018 but was turned away. Undeterred, he snuck back into the country and eventually settled with relatives before finding his way into New York’s shelter system. His lawyer confirmed in court that he had been living in the US as an undocumented migrant, working as a roofer while frequently indulging in heavy drinking.
According to his statements, the night before the horrific attack, he had been drinking heavily in a Queens bar. After drinking beer and tequila, he continued to drink alone before heading to the train. “When I woke up, I was already on the F train,” he said.
Later that morning, around 8 or 9 am, Zapeta-Calil allegedly got off at the Coney Island station, approached the sleeping Kawam, and set her on fire. He was arrested hours later near Columbus Circle, his intoxicated state still apparent.
In court: Accused pleads not guilty, requests medical supervision
In court on Tuesday, Zapeta-Calil, wearing an orange jumpsuit and jacket, pleaded not guilty to charges of murder and arson. His defense attorney requested that he be placed under medical supervision while being held without bail. “I am very sorry,” Zapeta-Calil reportedly told detectives. “I didn’t mean to. But I really don’t know. I don’t know what happened, but I’m very sorry for that woman.”
While the case has sparked widespread outrage, it has also raised troubling questions about the consequences of untreated alcoholism and the potential dangers of a system that failed to prevent his repeated offenses. As Zapeta-Calil’s court case moves forward, the community is left grappling with the horrific reality of the crime and the chilling disconnect between the accused’s drunken state and his horrific actions.
Zapeta-Calil is scheduled to return to court in March, as prosecutors continue to build their case against him. For now, the city holds its breath, waiting for justice to be served in a case that has both horrified and mystified the public.
