US4 min(s) read
Published 16:15 09 Jun 2026 GMT
The man accused of fatally stabbing a young Ukrainian refugee on a North Carolina train erupted in court this week after revealing his disturbing motive for the attack.
Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, appeared before a federal judge in Charlotte on Tuesday, where he reportedly shouted about having "material in his body" and demanded that charges be filed against the FBI.
According to Queen City News, Brown also asked the judge whether he had reviewed a mental health evaluation and a letter written by his mother during the brief hearing.
The outburst came as the court determined that Brown remains incompetent to stand trial over the death of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, who was fatally stabbed aboard a Charlotte Blue Line light rail train in August 2025.
As a result, Brown will now undergo up to four months of medication and treatment in an effort to restore his competency.
If he is still deemed unfit after treatment, federal law could allow him to remain in custody indefinitely, while a future hearing may determine whether he can be forcibly medicated.
The latest court appearance comes months after a disturbing jailhouse phone call shed light on Brown's state of mind following the attack.
In the recorded conversation, obtained days after Zarutska's death, Brown admitted he had stabbed the young woman despite never speaking to her.
"I hurt my hand, stabbing her. I don't even know the lady. I never said not one word to the lady at all. That's scary, ain't it. Why would somebody stab somebody for no reason?" he said.
When his sister, Tracey, asked why he targeted Zarutska, Brown offered a bizarre explanation.
"They just lashed out on her, that's what happened. Whoever was working the materials, they lashed out on her. That's all there is to it. Now they really gotta investigate what my body was exposed to... Now they gotta do an investigation as to who was the motive behind what happened."
Tracey later revealed her brother had been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia.
"A person that is hearing voices in their head and believes the world is against them, they're going to break. And I think that night he broke," she said.
"He was a high risk. He was not in his right mind. He was not safe for society. We know what he has been dealing with the last three years. And now an innocent woman is dead."
Brown's mother also claimed her son had repeatedly sought help before the tragedy.
"He was seeking help. He called 911 multiple times. Instead of talking to him, they thought charging him was going to help," she said.
Zarutska, who is originally from Kyiv, moved to the United States with her family after fleeing the war in Ukraine.
She worked at Zepeddie's pizzeria, became fluent in English, and hoped to become a veterinary assistant.
Surveillance footage shows the moment Brown brutally stabbed the 23-year-old, who was sitting alone on the train.
At approximately 9:55PM, the suspect "pulled a knife out of his pocket, unfolds the knife, pauses, then stands up, and strikes at the victim three times," according to an affidavit cited by PEOPLE.
"Blood visibly drips on the floor as the defendant walks away from the victim. The victim goes unresponsive shortly after the attack," the affidavit states.
Zarutska was pronounced dead at the scene. Brown was arrested shortly afterwards after a witness provided information to investigators.
Federal prosecutors later charged him with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system in addition to state murder charges.
Prosecutors have indicated they intend to pursue the death penalty.
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