09/18/2025
Decarlos Brown Jr., the man charged with fatally stabbing Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train, has provided an explanation for his actions.
In an audio recording released by his sister, Brown claims that “materials” inside his body compelled him to commit the crime. He further states that he had been “hearing voices” prior to the incident. The recording was made during a phone call from jail, where Brown is currently being held without bond. She also revealed that he thought the government had implanted a chip in him.
The initial CCTV footage released showed Iryna Zarutska boarding the train and sitting in front of DeCarlos Brown, who was also one of the travelers in that coach. After a while, without any interactions, Brown Jr gets up, takes out a pocket knife, and slits Zarutska's throat.
At the time of the stabbing, Decarlos was free on cashless bail despite a history of violent crimes and mental illness.
