FACT CHECK: Did the NYPD Name “Amelia Carter” As the Subway Fire Victim?
A post on X claims that a young woman named Amelia Carter was identified as the woman set ablaze on the New York City subway in December.
Say her name Amelia Carter 😢
This is the girl whose life was ended as she was set on FIRE in a NYC subway by an ILLEGAL Sebastian Zapeta.
Am I the only one feeling that Joe Biden, Kamala Harris & every single Democrat should be held RESPONSIBLE‼️
Justice for Amelia Carter 🙏 pic.twitter.com/dBoUKXqPGy
— 🌹IRA The Ghost of ARI 💯ᖉ∩ƨƨ!ɐu ᗷO⊥ ❌ (@IRAtheGhostARI) December 23, 2024
Verdict: False
The victim was identified. The image shown in the X post appears to be AI-generated.
Fact Check:
A woman was set on fire while sleeping on the New York City subway, killing her and raising even more questions about the safety of the city’s crucial transportation system, according to NBC News. The suspect, Sebastian Zapeta-Calil, is believed to be an illegal immigrant from Guatemala and was previously deported in 2018, CNN reported.
A post on X claims that the deceased victim was named ‘Amelia Carter,’ and that Democrats such as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris should be held responsible for her murder. “Am I the only one feeling that Joe Biden, Kamala Harris & every single Democrat should be held RESPONSIBLE,” the post’s caption reads in part.
The post is incorrect, and the photo featured in the post appears to be AI-generated. Check Your Fact ran the X post’s attached photo of “Amelia” through AI-detection website TrueMedia, which found substantial evidence of manipulation, suggesting that the girl being presented as the victim doesn’t actually exist. (RELATED: Will The NYPD Require Its Officers To Wear Their Pronouns On Their Uniforms?)
According to Lead Stories, a “Justice for Amelia Carter” cryptocurrency coin was launched on pump.fun, a Solana-based crypto trading platform. Newsweek also reports that an entire fake background for “Amelia Carter” was created, including her employment as an NYC nurse and supposed internship with Sen. Bernie Sanders (D-VT).
The woman was identified as 57-year-old Debrina Kawam from New Jersey, according to NBC News. Kawam was believed to be homeless at the time of her death, the outlet reported.