NEW YORK — The woman who died after being set on fire in a New York subway train earlier this month was a 57-year-old from New Jersey, New York City police announced Tuesday.

The woman, Debrina Kawam, was from Toms River, a township on the Jersey Shore, according to the NYPD. New York City Mayor Eric Adams added that Kawam had a “brief stint in our homeless shelter system,” though did not say when. It appears Kawam recently moved to New York and had a very brief interaction with the city’s outreach services, according to the New York City Department of Homeless Services.

The man accused of lighting her on fire on Dec. 22, Sebastian Zapeta, 33, was taken into custody hours after police disseminated images of a suspect in the shocking Sunday morning attack on a train stopped in Brooklyn’s Coney Island. He has since been indicted on murder and arson charges.

Identifying the victim proved to be a challenge, and authorities said Friday they were still tracing her.

Adams said at an unrelated press briefing Tuesday that he didn’t know more than Kawam’s name and New Jersey address, but said authorities had been in contact with her next of kin.

“Hearts go out to the family, a horrific incident to have to live through,” Adams said. “It impacts on how New Yorkers feel. But it really reinforces what I’ve been saying: People should not be living on our subway system.”