The identity of the woman who was fatally set on fire in a New York subway train last month took over a week to be officially confirmed by the police. Meanwhile, a fake name spread rapidly across social media, leaving many people confused and misinformed.
On December 22, after the tragic incident, social media posts started circulating, claiming that the victim was a 29-year-old woman named “Amelia Carter.” These claims were unverified, but they quickly gained traction, often accompanied by an AI-generated image of a young woman.
The posts fueled a growing narrative, with some users accusing the media of withholding the name of the “beautiful young white woman” involved in the incident. In contrast, others highlighted the immigration status of the suspect.
Authorities, after investigating, confirmed the victim’s identity to be 57-year-old Debrina Kawam. It was only after a week that police released the name, despite the intense public curiosity. At that time, the name “Amelia Carter” spread like wildfire across various social media platforms. The posts were often framed around the idea that officials were refusing to name the victim, sparking outrage among some users who felt the case was being handled unfairly.
Nathan Walter, an associate professor at Northwestern University who studies misinformation, pointed out that these kinds of stories are particularly dangerous because they play into existing political narratives. He explained that misinformation spreads quickly when it “fits so well” into preconceived ideas, and people are less likely to question it.
The spread of the misinformation came at a time when video footage of Kawam engulfed in flames had already gone viral. While the video sparked widespread shock and curiosity about her identity, authorities had little to go on at that point. Investigators were working to identify her through forensics and video surveillance, but the lack of official details left a gap in the narrative that people filled with speculation and fake news.
While the police worked on confirming the victim’s identity, the false claim about “Amelia Carter” continued to spread. Some posts even falsely claimed that she was heading to visit her grandmother in Queens when the incident occurred, despite the fact that the victim was attacked at the opposite end of the subway line in Brooklyn. The fake story also compared Kawam’s death to the killing of a Georgia nursing student earlier that year, an incident that became a rallying point for political discussions around immigration.
The fake identity of Amelia Carter was eventually debunked, but not before the photo that was shared alongside the claim was confused. It turned out that the image was likely generated by an artificial intelligence tool designed to create realistic but fake photos.
Hany Farid, an expert in digital forensics, identified signs that the image might have been generated by a tool known as a generative adversarial network (GAN). This technology can produce photos of fake people that look incredibly real, making it hard to spot the deception.
As the misinformation continued to spread, the real Amelia Carter, whose name had been falsely attached to the incident, felt the need to step forward. She posted on social media that she was “alive and well,” distancing herself from the fake news.
Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, executive director of the National Association for Media Literacy Education, explained that people today expect immediate answers in times of crisis, and this impatience makes them vulnerable to false information. She pointed out that bad actors often exploit this desire for quick answers to push their agendas.
Finally, on January 2, the authorities confirmed that the victim was Debrina Kawam, a 57-year-old woman from New Jersey who had recently moved to New York. She had briefly stayed in a city homeless shelter before the incident. The man accused of setting her on fire, Sebastian Zapeta, has been charged with murder and arson. Zapeta is yet to enter a plea, and his attorney has declined to comment.
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Archer Bannister is a journalist with 4 years of experience covering hard-hitting stories. Currently working with Mikeandjonpodcast, Archer specializes in delivering timely and in-depth updates on a variety of topics, including crime news, politics, and national issues affecting the USA. His expertise and dedication to delivering accurate, impactful news make him a trusted voice for audiences seeking to stay informed on critical topics.
