The brutal murder of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee who had come to North Carolina in search of peace and safety, has left her loved ones shattered and the wider public outraged at what many see as a failure of the justice system. On August 22, 2025, Iryna was riding a train in Charlotte when she was suddenly and fatally attacked in what authorities have described as an unprovoked assault.
The suspect, 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., was arrested and charged with first-degree murder, but the story took an even darker turn when it was revealed that Brown had previously been released by Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes despite his long history of arrests. Iryna’s life was cut short in the most tragic way. Just hours before the attack, she had texted her boyfriend, Stanislav “Stas” Nikulytsia, to say she would be home soon. Instead, he rushed to the station that night only to be told that the woman he loved had died at the scene. The grief and shock he has expressed since that night reflect not just the loss of his partner, but also the anger that so many now feel toward a system that allowed a repeat offender to remain free.
Iryna’s family released a heartbreaking statement, saying, “We are heartbroken beyond words. Iryna came here to find peace and safety, and instead her life was stolen from her in the most horrific way. No family should have to go through this.” According to her obituary, Iryna had fled Ukraine with her mother, brother, and sister in 2022 to escape the violence of Russia’s invasion. In Charlotte, she had been working full-time at a local pizzeria while also attending community college to improve her English. Those who knew her described her as kind, hardworking, and deeply loved by her family and friends.
Her attorney said, “She was a young woman with dreams and determination, trying to build a better life, and she deserved so much more than this.” Her boyfriend Stas, who had been living with her in Charlotte for the past year, has struggled to process her death. Days after the tragedy, he posted a tender photo of the two of them in bathing suits, captioned only with a broken heart emoji—his first public expression of grief. In the weeks that followed, he used social media to share his anger, reposting videos that criticized Judge Stokes for releasing Brown on cashless bail just seven months before the killing.
His fury is shared by North Carolina House Speaker Tim Moore, who condemned the justice system for failing Iryna. “North Carolina’s justice system failed Iryna Zarutska,” Moore declared. “She came to Charlotte looking for safety and a better life, but instead, she was brutally murdered by a repeat offender who never should’ve been let back on the streets.” He went further, calling Judge Stokes “unfit” for her position and demanding her removal from the bench. The outrage is fueled by Brown’s troubling past. Reports show that he had been arrested 14 times before the killing. In January, despite his record, Judge Stokes released him on nothing more than a written promise that he would return for a future court date.
Even his own family had recognized his instability. His mother admitted that she had tried to have him involuntarily committed to a psychiatric hospital after his behavior turned violent. His sister, Tracey Brown, described him as a paranoid schizophrenic after visiting him in jail. She recalled how he mumbled to himself and made bizarre claims, insisting that his family was being trafficked by the government to get to him. These chilling accounts point to a man who was spiraling out of control, and yet he was free to roam the streets, culminating in a senseless act of violence that claimed the life of a young woman who had already survived the trauma of war.
For Iryna, who fled her homeland to escape violence, the irony is painful and cruel—she sought refuge in America but fell victim to the very kind of brutality she was trying to leave behind. Her story is a heartbreaking reminder of the fragility of life and the profound consequences of systemic failures. Her attorney summed it up poignantly: “That night, she texted her boyfriend that she would be home soon. Tragically, her journey ended in violence near the Camden light rail station.” The public outrage over this case continues to grow, not only because of the senseless loss of a promising young life but also because of the lingering question of whether it could have been prevented. With every detail that emerges about Brown’s past and the decision to release him, the anger only deepens.
For Stas, Iryna’s family, and countless others following this case, the pain is compounded by the knowledge that a young woman’s death might have been avoided if justice had been more vigilant. As the case moves forward, there are calls for accountability and change, but for those who loved Iryna, nothing can undo the devastation of her loss. Her life, full of promise and hope, was stolen too soon, and her story will remain a painful symbol of how the system can fail those it is supposed to protect.
