đą CHILLING REVELATION! A leaked jail call from DeCarlos Brown, accused in the tragic loss of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, uncovers a disturbing reason behind the train incidentâand itâs more shocking than anyone imagined. đ What did he say thatâs sparking outrage across the nation? Is there more to this heartbreaking story?
đŁď¸ Share your thoughtsâwhat does this mean for justice?
đ Uncover the jaw-dropping details here:
On August 22, 2025, the life of Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was cut short in a brutal, unprovoked attack on a Charlotte, North Carolina, light rail train. The suspect, 34-year-old DeCarlos Brown Jr., now faces first-degree murder charges and federal counts for violence on a mass transit system. But a recently leaked jail call between Brown and his sister, Tracey Brown, has added a disturbing new layer to this already heartbreaking story. In the call, Brownâs cryptic and delusional explanation for why he attacked Iryna has left the public reeling, raising questions about mental health, public safety, and the failures of a system that allowed this tragedy to unfold.
A Life Stolen
Iryna Zarutskaâs journey to America was one of hope and resilience. Fleeing the war in Ukraine, she arrived in Charlotte with her family in 2022, seeking safety from the horrors of Russian missile strikes and occupation. Described by friends as a vibrant artist who loved sculpting and designing clothes, Iryna worked at a local pizzeria, saving for a brighter future. On that fateful evening, she boarded the Lynx Blue Line train at Scaleybark station, dressed in her work uniform, earbuds in, scrolling through her phone. Unbeknownst to her, DeCarlos Brown Jr. sat just behind her, a ticking time bomb of untreated mental illness.
Surveillance footage, released by the Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS), captures the chilling moment when Brown, without any prior interaction, pulled a folding knife from his pocket, stood, and stabbed Iryna three times in the neck. The attack was swift and merciless, leaving Iryna with no chance to defend herself. She died on the train, her final moments marked by fear and confusion as other passengers scrambled to help. Brown, seen on video calmly walking away and discarding his hoodie, was arrested days later on August 28, 2025. The footage, now viral on platforms like X, has sparked widespread grief and outrage, with millions mourning the loss of a young woman who sought only peace.
The Leaked Jail Call
The case took a darker turn when a recorded phone call between DeCarlos Brown and his sister, Tracey, was leaked to the public. Recorded just days after his arrest, the call offers a glimpse into Brownâs troubled mind. âMake sure it was me that did it, not the material,â he told Tracey, according to reports from Newsweek and Fox News. He went on to claim that âman-made materialsâ implanted in his body by the government had compelled him to act, insisting he had no personal reason to harm Iryna. âThatâs scary, ainât it? Why would somebody stab somebody for no reason?â he said, his voice a mix of confusion and detachment.
Brownâs statements are steeped in paranoia, consistent with his documented history of schizophrenia. His sister, Tracey, who was herself assaulted by Brown in 2022, told CNN that he had long believed the government had implanted a chip in his brain, controlling his actions. In the call, Brown suggested that by committing the act, he hoped authorities would be forced to âremove the materialâ from his bodyâa delusion that underscores the severity of his mental state. The audio, described as chilling by those whoâve heard it, has fueled debates about whether Brownâs actions were the result of untreated mental illness or something more sinister.
A Familyâs Cry for Help
Tracey Brown has been vocal about her brotherâs struggles, describing him as a âparanoid schizophrenicâ who had sought help multiple times without success. She told Pravda EN that Brownâs mental health had deteriorated in the months leading up to the attack, with his delusions growing more intense. Their mother, Michelle Dewitt, echoed this sentiment in an interview with The Post, saying she had tried to get her son into a homeless shelter days before the incident due to his increasing aggression. âHe shouldnât have been out,â she said, her words heavy with regret and frustration.
Brownâs family paints a picture of a man failed by a system ill-equipped to handle severe mental illness. Court records show Brown had been arrested 14 times prior to the attack, including for robbery with a dangerous weapon and misuse of the 911 system. In January 2025, he was released after an arrest for calling 911 during a welfare check, claiming âmaterialsâ were controlling him. Magistrate Judge Teresa Stokes let him go on a âwritten promiseâ to appear in courtâa decision now criticized as a critical oversight.
A Community in Mourning
Irynaâs death has left Charlotte reeling. Her family, devastated, has raised thousands through a GoFundMe to cover funeral costs, describing her as a âbeacon of lightâ who loved animals and art. The viral surveillance footage, coupled with the leaked jail call, has amplified public grief, with hashtags like #JusticeForIryna trending on X. Posts on the platform reflect a mix of sorrow and anger, with one user writing, âShe escaped war only to die like thisâitâs unbearable.â Others have called for reform, questioning how someone with Brownâs history was free to board that train.
The incident has also sparked political firestorms. Figures like former President Donald Trump have cited Irynaâs death as evidence of rising crime in Democratic-led cities, a narrative that has drawn backlash from local officials who argue it oversimplifies a complex issue. Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles has promised to review transit safety protocols, but for Irynaâs family, these measures come too late. âWe are heartbroken beyond words,â a family spokesperson said in a statement to Newsweek. âShe came here for peace and safety.â
The Bigger Picture: Mental Health and Public Safety
The leaked jail call has thrust mental health into the spotlight, raising questions about how society handles individuals like Brown. Advocates argue that Charlotte, like many cities, lacks adequate resources for treating severe mental illness, particularly among the homeless population. Brown, who was living on the streets at the time of the attack, had fallen through the cracks of a strained system. âWe need crisis intervention teams, not just arrests,â said a local social worker on X, echoing a sentiment shared by many.
The case also highlights the challenges of balancing public safety with compassion. Brownâs family insists he wasnât inherently violent, but rather a victim of his untreated condition. Yet for Irynaâs loved ones, the focus is on justice for a young woman whose life was stolen in an instant. Attorney General Pamela Bondi has vowed to seek the maximum penalty, including life without parole, and the FBI is exploring whether the death penalty could apply. âThis was a disgraceful act that should never happen in America,â FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement to Fox News.
A Call for Change
As the legal process unfolds, Charlotte faces a reckoning. The tragedy has exposed gaps in mental health care, judicial oversight, and transit security. Community leaders are calling for increased funding for mental health programs, better training for law enforcement, and stricter fare enforcement on public transit to prevent similar incidents. Meanwhile, Irynaâs memory endures through her art and the love of those who knew her. Her family has shared her sculptures and clothing designs online, a bittersweet tribute to a life full of promise.
The leaked jail call, with its eerie glimpse into Brownâs mind, serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of systemic failures. Itâs a call to actionâto build a society where safety and mental health are prioritized, where tragedies like Irynaâs can be prevented. As the nation mourns, the hope is that her story will spark change, ensuring that no one else suffers such a senseless loss.