In New York, police took over a week to publicly identify the victim of a fatal subway fire, Debrina Kawam, 57, who tragically lost her life on December 22. Meanwhile, social media buzzed with misinformation, with some users incorrectly claiming that the victim was a 29-year-old woman named “Amelia Carter.” This false narrative quickly circulated across various online platforms, often accompanied by imagery that experts suggest may have been artificially generated.
The origins of the erroneous claims about Kawam’s identity remain unclear, but those sharing the misinformation frequently emphasized the immigration status of the man charged in her death. He is reported to be a Guatemalan citizen who entered the United States unlawfully, which fueled accusations against the media for failing to address the supposed plight of a “beautiful young white woman.” Misinformation scholar Nathan Walter from Northwestern University noted that such narratives provided a rich ground for anti-immigration discourse, turning the tragedy into a “framing war.” “It spreads quickly because it just fits so well,” he pointed out regarding the misinformation’s rapid propagation, highlighting how easily people accept information that resonates with their beliefs without skepticism.
Following the horrific incident, graphic footage of Kawam engulfed in flames circulated widely, ramping up the public’s eagerness to learn her identity. Despite the swift arrest of the suspect, Sebastian Zapeta, on the same day, few details emerged about the victim in the days that followed as authorities focused on identifying her through forensic examination and video surveillance.
Instead of waiting for accurate information, many online users filled the gaps with baseless claims regarding “Amelia Carter.” Social media posts urged officials and journalists to “say her name,” suggesting that she was traveling to visit her grandmother in Queens. This contradicted facts, as Kawam had been set on fire on a subway line in Brooklyn. Some social media users attempted to draw parallels between this case and that of Georgia nursing student Laken Riley, who was murdered by a Venezuelan man in February 2024, a crime that had previously ignited debates about immigration policy.
Amidst the disinformation backlash, images of an actual Amelia Carter were mistakenly shared, prompting her to clarify on X that she was “alive and well.” Meanwhile, many of the posts spread an image purportedly of her, which exhibited characteristics of being AI-generated, noted Hany Farid, a digital forensics specialist from UC Berkeley. Although he described the image as difficult to analyze due to its poor quality, he highlighted its vague features and mismatched eye alignments as signs of artificial creation.
Michelle Ciulla Lipkin, who heads the National Association for Media Literacy Education, emphasized that society has become intolerant of the uncertainty that accompanies incomplete information. She warned that those with malicious intent often exploit this impatience, capitalizing on the public’s need for clarity to push their narratives.
Only recently did authorities confirm that Kawam was indeed the victim, revealing she had recently relocated from New Jersey and spent time in a homeless shelter in New York. The suspect, Zapeta, whose address correlates with a shelter offering housing and substance abuse services, faces charges of murder and arson. His legal team has not yet commented, and he has yet to enter a plea.
