Judge Finds Iryna Zarutska’s Alleged Murderer Incompetent To Stand Trial ‘At This Time’

Interesting decarlos brown, iryna zarutska, north carolina, us attorneys admin June 10, 2026 0 Comments

Judge Finds Iryna Zarutska’s Alleged Murderer Incompetent To Stand Trial ‘At This Time’

The man accused of killing Iryna Zarutska in North Carolina has been found unable to stand trial “at this time,” a U.S. attorney said Tuesday.

U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina Russ Ferguson confirmed the news regarding alleged killer Decarlos Brown Jr., telling the press that he is hopeful the accused will stand trial eventually, WBTV News reported. Brown was accused of the slaying of Zarutska, 23, aboard a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail back in August 2025. Surveillance footage appeared to show Brown seated behind Zarutska before standing up and allegedly stabbing the Ukrainian refugee in her neck.

A grand jury indicted Brown on charges of muder in September 2025, WCNC reported. On Tuesday, the judge determined that Brown lacked comprehension of the proceedings he faced or help in his own defense, but doctors think his capicity may be restorable. Prosecutors said they believe a few months’ forced medication could allow him to regain the mental capacity required, according to Spectrum 1 News. (RELATED: White House Says Democrats Refused To Applaud Mother Of Slain Ukrainian Refugee During Trump’s SOTU Address)

“The doctor that examined him for the competency hearing today found that his prognosis for restoration is very good, so I rely on the doctors there. I think the prognosis is good and we’ll see him stand trial,” Ferguson said.

“Our number one goal here is justice for Iryna Zarutska and Iryna Zarutska’s family,” the U.S. attorney continued, according to WBTV. “That’s what’s on the top of our minds and our hearts every day, and this is one step in that process.”

“We have to make sure that we have a case that is airtight on appeal, airtight on post-conviction litigation. We have to make sure the defendant has all the due process that the Constitution affords him, and this is one step in that process,” Ferguson said.

Brown’s defense argued that a hearing on if he’s competent cannot take place while he remains in federal custody, Spectrum 1 News reported. A lawyer for Zarutska’s family, Lauren Newton, alleged that questions remain over whether anything will take place to see Brown’s capacity restored so the case can proceed.

“I would like to tell the court I have a body emergency,” Brown said, according to a his defense attornies submitted to the court obtained by Courthouse News. “Someone has full access to my body and is controlling me wrongfully. And law enforcement refuse to investigate it. And it requires for an investigation. When describing the technology someone was using I was misdiagnosed with schizophrenia.”

Brown reportedly had several outbursts during the proceedings of Tuesday’s trial, causing the judge to tell him to quiet down, WCNC reported.

“This was not unexpected. We have confidence that his capacity will be restored so he can stand trial for what he did to Iryna,” Zarutska’s family attorney told Spectrum 1 News.

Brown’s sister previously addressed a motion reportedly filed by his attorney in April while speaking with the local outlet. “I just hope both families get justice,” she said. “I hope that this situation opened up a lot of people’s eyes on mental health. I hope the state will start taking mental health seriously, so this won’t happen again.”

Brown has a long criminal history prior to allegedly killing Zarutska. He faced misdemeanor charges three times from 2007 to 2009, all of which were dismissed, according to court records obtained by WBTV. He was reportedly convicted of felony breaking and entering in 2014 and received a 30-day jail term and 24 months supervised probation. A court found Brown guilty of assaulting a man in 2014 and he spent more than five years behind bars before being released on parole in 2020, according to court documents.

Mecklenburg County jail records revealed Brown was arrested three times, the outlet reported. Authorities apprehended him for allegedly assaulting a female and personal injury in 2022, but the allegations reportedly aren’t reflected in charges. He was arrested twice in 2024 for alleged misuse of the 911 system, again with no corresponding court records obtained by the outlet.

In January 2025, Brown was once again arrested for misusing the 911 system and was charged, according to court records. Brown was let go two days later following a written promise to appear. In July 2025, Brown’s lawyer reportedly filed a motion questioning his ability to stand trial and the judge issued a court order for a forensic evaluation. The order was given less than four weeks before Brown was accused in Zarutska’s murder, the WBTV reported.

Editor’s note: This article has been updated with additional information.