The partner of a Ukrainian refugee who tragically lost her life in a stabbing incident on a train has criticized a judge for being labeled as “unqualified” for allowing the suspect to remain free.
Decarlos Brown Jr, with a history of 14 prior criminal arrests, allegedly fatally stabbed 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska in a seemingly random attack captured on video. Zarutska, who had fled from Ukraine to the US to escape the war, was described by her family as determined to establish a safer future.
Stanislav Nikulytsia, the victim’s boyfriend, posted a photo of himself with Zarutska on Instagram along with a heart emoji. He also shared posts criticizing Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes for granting Brown bail seven months before the tragic incident. Criticism was raised in social media stories questioning the judge’s qualifications for releasing the suspect.
Zarutska’s family became alarmed when she did not return home, and her phone’s location indicated that she was still at the station, as stated in their message. They shared that on the night of the incident, she had messaged her boyfriend about returning home soon, only for them to discover the devastating news upon arriving at the station that she had passed away.
Video footage of the incident revealed Zarutska boarding a light-rail train in North Carolina, sitting in front of Brown, who was seated behind her. Suddenly, without prior interaction, Brown pulled out a pocketknife, stood up, and attacked her, causing chaos among passengers as she fell to the ground.
Brown faces federal charges for causing death on a mass transportation system, which could lead to life imprisonment or the death penalty. Additional charges may follow as the investigation progresses, as mentioned by Russ Ferguson, the US attorney for the western district of North Carolina. The federal case will proceed alongside the state’s first-degree murder charge against Brown.
Court records show Brown’s extensive criminal history, including a five-year sentence for robbery with a dangerous weapon in Mecklenburg County. Earlier this year, he was arrested for making repeated 911 calls from a hospital, alleging attempts to control him, but was released without bail by a judge.
His mother disclosed to local media that she had sought psychiatric treatment for him due to violent behavior at home, leading to a diagnosis of schizophrenia by doctors. A psychological evaluation was ordered by a judge in July at the request of Brown’s public defender to assess his ability to contribute to his own defense, but it remains unclear why this evaluation did not occur before the tragic incident in late August.
