Family of NYC subway burning victim says Democrats need to answer for how migrant suspect allowed back into US

The household of a pistillate who constabulary said was lit connected occurrence and burned to death, said they privation Democrats to reply astir however the amerciable migrant fishy got backmost into the state to perpetrate the horrific crime.

Debrina Kawam, 57, was sitting by herself, believed to beryllium asleep, connected a stopped F bid successful Brooklyn successful December erstwhile Sebastian Zapeta allegedly walked up to her and ignited her apparel with a lighter.

Zapeta, a antecedently deported migrant from Guatemala, past walked retired of the car to a adjacent waiting bench, sat down and watched arsenic assistance arrived, according to New York City Police Commissioner Jessica Tisch told reporters astatine a quality briefing. Kawam was truthful severely burned it took much than a week to place her remains.

Sebastian Zapeta appears successful Brooklyn Supreme Court successful Brooklyn connected March 12, 2025. Zapeta, 33, is charged with the execution of a pistillate whom helium is alleged to person acceptable connected occurrence connected a New York City subway successful December past year. (Jesse Ward for Fox News Digital)

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On Wednesday, civilian rights person Rev. Kevin McCall spoke extracurricular of Kings County Supreme Court successful Brooklyn wherever helium work a connection from the household who described Kawam arsenic a "beautiful, agleam psyche who brought airy to everyone astir her." McCall spoke aft Zapeta appeared successful a little tribunal appearance.

The family’s connection ripped into Democrats, whose lax migration policies nether the Biden medication led to millions of unvetted amerciable immigrants determination crossed the border.  

"We arsenic a household wanted to cognize however this monster, this idiosyncratic liable for taking her from us, was ever allowed backmost into this country," McCall said per the statement. "How was helium permitted to locomotion escaped and committed specified a heinous act?" It's a question that weighs connected our hearts heavily, and our minds, and I judge that question needs to beryllium answered by the Democrats."

Zapeta entered the U.S. illegally successful 2018, according to authorities. He was deported and returned to the state astatine an chartless time.

The household said Zapeta should beryllium held accountable to the afloat grade of the law, and we volition not remainder until justness is served. 

"He needs to beryllium incarcerated for the remainder of his beingness for taking our loved one. Furthermore, we privation him to beryllium deported instantly truthful helium tin ne'er measurement ft successful this state again to afflict harm and symptom connected anyone else."

Civil rights person Rev. Kevin McCall held a property league extracurricular Brooklyn Supreme Court pursuing the tribunal quality of Sebastian Zapeta, 33, the fishy who is charged with the brutal execution of Debrina Kawam successful Coney Island. (Jesse Ward for Fox News Digital)

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The household besides thanked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem for calling connected New York officials to deport amerciable immigrants who perpetrate crimes successful New York City and crossed the country.

McCall himself blasted New York City Mayor Eric Adams for "playing games connected what to bash regarding ICE." He added that the household person opted not to look successful court, noting they are precise private. 

Meanwhile, Zapeta walked into tribunal with his hands cuffed down his back, wearing an orangish jumpsuit and a brownish jacket. His hairsbreadth looked freshly cut.

Sebastian Zapeta's attorney, Andrew Friedman said that Zapeta was appearing successful tribunal for a quick league connected find wherever prosecutors requested a buccal swab from Zapeta.

He is owed backmost successful tribunal connected May 7. 

WATCH: Illegal migrant accused of lighting pistillate connected occurrence appears successful court

Zapeta has already pleaded not blameworthy to execution and arson charges successful the Dec. 22 incident.

According to tribunal documents, Zapeta told detectives helium was successful a drunken blackout during the onslaught connected Kawam, who constabulary said was stateless astatine the time.

"I americium precise sorry. I didn't mean to. But I truly don't know, I don't cognize what happened, but I'm precise atrocious for that woman," helium allegedly told detectives, according to a transcript from his interrogation translated from Spanish to English.

Sebastian Zapeta allegedly walked up to Kawam and ignited her apparel with a lighter. (NYPD)

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Zapeta told detectives helium was drunk astatine the clip of the slaying and often blacked retired betwixt his location and the subway level oregon vice versa.

"Sometimes, erstwhile I portion and erase the memory, and I don't known right?" helium said, according to the transcript. "When I aftermath up, I'm already successful the house, already sleeping. I aftermath up erstwhile I'm already astatine home. Or determination are times erstwhile I aftermath up, and I'm already astatine the bid station…or connected the train…"

Zapeta faces a maximum condemnation of beingness without the anticipation of parole if convicted. 

Fox News’ Jennifer Johnson, Michael Ruiz and Greg Wehner contributed to this report.