The NYPD said Tuesday the woman who died after being lit on fire on a New York City subway car was from New Jersey.

Officials say Debrina Kawam spent some time in the New York City homeless shelter system, but Toms River New Jersey was her last known address.

With the help of forensics and surveillance video, the NYPD identified 57-year-old as the woman who was burned to death on a subway car in Brooklyn. Sebatian Zapeta, 33, was charged with murder and arson.

Miles away from New York City in Toms River, neighbors are shaken up by the story and saddened to hear of Kawam’s ties to the area. A home on Anthony Avenue as well as a home on Waterberry Court are Kawam’s last known addresses.

Olga Corpion currently owns the home on Waterberry Court where Kawam's family once lived and says she briefly met Kawam early in 2024.

"She showed up here one day in the middle of May and she said, 'I want to see my mother,' and I said, 'I don’t know your mom, I moved in on May first,'" Corpion recalls.

Corpion says she invited Kawam in and asked to exchange numbers to try to help her get in touch with her family through her realtor, but Kawam said she didn’t have a phone.

"I gave her my number... 'you go ahead and give me a call'… she never called back. But it was a very brief encounter," Corpion adds.

Officials say Kawam and the man charged with her murder were on a stationary F train at the Coney Island stop when Zapeta approached Kawam, who was sleeping, and set her clothes on fire. He then fanned the flames, engulfing her in the blaze, before sitting on a platform bench and watching her burn. Authorities say they don't believe Kawam and Zapeta knew each other.

Gov. Phil Murphy posted on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter, about the incident, saying, "Heartbroken and outraged by the murder of Debrina Kawam. The individual responsible for this heinous attack must be brought to justice."

According to the authorities, they’ve been in touch with Kawam’s next of kin.

Zapeta is facing multiple charges including murder and arson.