Who is Iryna Zarutska's boyfriend, and his reaction to the murder and the accused DeCarlos Brown Jr; all the details here

Stas Nikulytsia, the boyfriend of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed aboard a Charlotte light rail train on August 22, has publicly expressed his grief and outrage over her death. Iryna Zarutska was fatally stabbed aboard a Charlotte light rail train by 34-year-old Decarlos Brown Jr., a repeat offender. The attack occurred as Zarutska was heading home from work.

Nikulytsia shared his sorrow on Instagram, posting a series of photos and symbols of their relationship. He also criticized Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes for releasing the suspect, Decarlos Brown Jr., on bail months before the fatal attack. Zarutska, who fled the war in Ukraine with her family in 2022, was stabbed to death aboard a Charlotte train. Brown, described as a career criminal with a long arrest history, was released in January on a written promise to appear in court.

Iryna texted her boyfriend the night of August 22 to tell him she was on her way home from her full-time job at Zepeddie's, a local pizza parlor, her devastated family has revealed.




Zarutska’s family recalled their alarm when she failed to return home and they discovered her remains at the train station. Her family described her as a caring, hardworking person who had built a new life in the United States and touched many lives, including residents of an assisted living facility where she worked.

In a statement, a spokesperson for the family said: '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.'

Federal charges filed against suspect

Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, has been charged with first-degree murder and a federal offense related to the death of Zarutska. The Department of Justice announced that Brown is charged with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.

Brown, a career criminal with a history of arrests and mental health issues, was released on a written promise to appear in court earlier this year. Zarutska's family chose to have her buried in the United States, a testament to how much she had embraced the American dream.