Will Another Murderer Be Freed?
Segment #855
Crazed homeless man accused of slaughtering Iryna Zarutska on train found incompetent to stand trial.
Chris Nesi Published April 8, 2026
The deranged homeless man accused of savagely butchering Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, on a Charlotte light rail train has been found “incapable to proceed” on state murder charges.
According to a motion filed April 7, Decarlos Brown Jr. was evaluated Dec. 29 at Central Regional Hospital, and the subsequent report determined he was not competent to stand trial, according to WBTV.
The results were previously sealed in state court, and were only revealed as the motion was filed.
Decarlos Brown Jr. allegedly killed Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train.Instagram/ Iryna Zarutska
A judge must now determine whether to accept the report’s findings, and the case against him will likely be delayed until his capacity is determined to be “restored” by the court, the station reported.
In the motion filed by Brown’s public defender, he claimed the court-required capacity hearing cannot take place with the accused killer in federal custody, and that the court also can’t order to have his capacity restored.
Brown has been in federal custody in Chicago since a grand jury indicted him on Oct. 22 for violence against a railroad carrier and mass transportation system causing death.
He’s been ordered to undergo a psychiatric evaluation pursuant to his federal case, but court filings viewed by the outlet last month show it hasn’t been completed and that the evaluation period has been extended. The outlet reports that restoring competency can take a long time in North Carolina because of limited space in state psychiatric facilities, and said it’s not uncommon for defendants to wait a year or more for a bed to open up.
Brown, 35, whose mother told The Post is schizophrenic, was arrested at least 14 times in North Carolina for crimes ranging from assault and firearms possession to felony robbery dating back to 2007. Brown Jr. was found “incapable to proceed” on state murder charges for the brutal slaying.AP
At the time of the senseless attack in late August, he was free on cashless bail after a magistrate released him with a “written promise” to show up for court after placing a bogus 911 call.
The horrifying caught-on-camera slaying became national news, and prompted President Trump to call for Brown to face the death penalty on federal murder charges. Two months after the attack, North Carolina Gov. Josh Stein signed “Iryna’s Law,” which prevents cashless bail for some violent crimes and repeat offenders and improves checks on criminals released on bail.
In the video, Brown is seen seated on the train before Zarutska boards and unknowingly takes the seat in front of him, her blonde locks tucked beneath a black baseball cap from Zepeddie’s Pizza, part of her work uniform. As she busies herself with her phone, completely unaware of the danger lurking inches behind her, Brown unfolds a pocket knife before looming over her and brutally stabbing her several times in the neck in the cowardly sneak attack. Zarutska’s face contorted into a haunting look of horror as she bled out on the train. Bystanders barely seemed to notice the horrifying scene — and no one stepped up to render aid.
After the stabbing, Brown can be seen meandering through the Lynx Blue Line train as a trail of blood drops forms behind him. He was arrested at the scene a short time later. During a welfare check last January, Brown asked cops to investigate a “man-made material” inside his body that was controlling his actions, according to an affidavit obtained by the Charlotte Observer.
Probable Punishment for Decarlos Brown
DeCarlos Brown), 34 (now approximately 35), is the man accused of murdering 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska in a random stabbing on Charlotte, North Carolina’s Lynx Blue Line light rail on August 22, 2025.
He was arrested immediately at the scene after surveillance video showed him stabbing her multiple times from behind (including in the neck) shortly after she sat in front of him on the train. Brown allegedly said something like “I got that white girl” afterward. Zarutska died from her injuries.
Charges
State (North Carolina): First-degree murder (indicted by grand jury in September 2025). Prosecutors were considering the death penalty (via a Rule 24 hearing).
Federal: One count of committing an act of violence causing death on a railroad carrier/mass transportation system (18 U.S.C. § 1992), indicted October 22, 2025. This carries a possible death penalty or life imprisonment. Federal prosecutors have filed “special findings” alleging Brown intentionally killed Zarutska with reckless disregard for human life, and they have stated they will seek the maximum penalty.
justice.gov +1
Brown has a lengthy criminal history (at least 14 prior arrests in Mecklenburg County dating back to 2007, including armed robbery for which he served prison time) and a documented history of serious mental illness, including schizophrenia.
Current Status (as of April 8, 2026)Brown remains in federal custody (he has been held there since at least late 2025).
State case: A December 29, 2025, psychiatric evaluation at Central Regional Hospital (a state facility) found him “incapable to proceed to trial” (i.e., mentally incompetent). His defense filed a motion on April 7, 2026, asking for a six-month (180-day) continuance of proceedings, including the Rule 24 death-penalty hearing. A judge has not yet ruled on this, but the state case is effectively on hold. A capacity hearing cannot occur while he is in federal custody. If the findings are accepted, he would need treatment to restore competency before any state trial could proceed. Competency restoration in North Carolina can take a long time due to limited psychiatric bed space.
Federal case: Ongoing and separate. Brown is undergoing his own federal psychological evaluation (an extension was granted; a report is expected later in April 2026). If he is also found incompetent federally, a federal capacity hearing would follow. Federal prosecutors are still pursuing the case and have not announced a final decision on seeking the death penalty, but the charges make him eligible.
What Will Happen Next?There are no trial dates set in either jurisdiction. The state proceedings are delayed (likely for at least six months, possibly longer) pending a judicial ruling on the competency report and any restoration process. The federal case continues to move forward in parallel, and it could take precedence while Brown is in federal custody. If Brown is eventually deemed competent and convicted (the evidence includes clear video footage), he faces the very real possibility of life in prison without parole or the federal death penalty. Both state and federal authorities have signaled they are seeking the maximum punishment. If he remains incompetent long-term, he could be committed for treatment indefinitely rather than stand trial.
This is the latest public information based on court filings and news reports from April 8, 2026. The cases are active, so outcomes could change with new rulings or evaluations. Brown is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.