‘Million dollar smile’: Sleeping woman burned alive on New York subway pictured in yearbook photo

The sleeping subway passenger who was burned to death on a New York subway was known for her “million dollar smile”, her high school yearbook shows.

WARNING: Graphic

The sleeping subway passenger who was burned to death on a Brooklyn F train had aspirations to be a flight attendant and was known for her “million dollar smile,” according to her high school yearbook biography.

Debrina Kawam, known to her classmates as “Debbie” or “Deb”, graduated from Passaic Valley Regional High School in Little Falls, New Jersey, in 1985, The New York Times reported.

Ms Kawam, 57, later fell on hard times. Sources said she was living in New York City homeless shelters from September until December 2.

Her horrific death shocked the city — and the nation.

Debrina Kawam. Picture: Passaic Valley Regional High School

Illegal Guatemalan immigrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is charged with setting her on fire around 7.30am on December 22 on an F train in the Stillwell Avenue-Coney Island station.

She was asleep on the train when she was set ablaze, video shows.

Ms Kawam, who was originally from Toms River, said her memories at the public school were participating in freshman and sophomore cheerleading and that her secret ambition was “to party forever”.

She signed off her biography thanking her parents “for everything”.

Ms Kawam was one of three students who earned the superlative of “million dollar smile” and “most punk”, according to the outlet.

Illegal Guatemalan immigrant Sebastian Zapeta-Calil is charged with her brutal murder. Picture: Supplied

Ms Kawam’s body was ID’d through fingerprints more than a week after the horrific tragedy.

Zapeta-Calil, 33, who was deported in 2018 but sneaked back into the US, was indicted on first- and second-degree murder and one count of arson on December 27.

He claimed he was too drunk and didn’t remember the attack.

Zapeta-Calil faces up to life in prison without the possibility of parole if he’s convicted on the top count of first-degree murder, Brooklyn District Attorney Eric Gonzalez said.

“It is the most serious statute in New York state law, and my office is very confident about the evidence in this case and our ability to hold Zapeta accountable for his dastardly deeds,” Mr Gonzalez said.

Toms River resident Olga Corpion had purchased the house Ms Kawam’s mother once lived in and said she met Debrina shortly after moving into the neighbourhood in May.

“She said, ‘Hi, my name is Debrina, and I want to go see my mum. My mother lives here. I want to talk to her,’” Ms Corpion told The Post.

“She looked like she was in her 50s, so right away I assumed she was not well, because she didn’t know her mum had moved. I’m in shock that she was standing right here and then I found out she died so horribly.”

This article originally appeared on NY Post and was reproduced with permission