A North Carolina court has found the man accused of fatally stabbing 23-year-old Ukrainian immigrant Iryna Zarutska on a Charlotte light rail train to be mentally incompetent to stand trial, adding significant uncertainty to a high-profile murder case that drew national attention — including from President Donald Trump. Court documents filed April 7 in Mecklenburg County Superior Court confirm that Decarlos Brown, 35, was evaluated at Central Regional Hospital and found “incapable to proceed,” according to a report generated December 29, 2025. The case has captured the attention of residents across the country, including in North Idaho, where public safety and accountability in the criminal justice system remain top concerns.
Background on the Zarutska Murder Case
Iryna Zarutska had fled war-torn Ukraine seeking safety in the United States. She was working at a Charlotte pizzeria and attending community college to improve her English when she was killed on August 22, 2025, aboard the CATS Blue Line light rail. She was minutes from home when she was fatally stabbed. Brown was charged with murder the following day, on August 23, 2025.
Brown was subsequently indicted on first-degree murder charges in Mecklenburg County Superior Court in September 2025. A federal grand jury separately indicted him in October 2025 on charges of violence against a mass transportation system resulting in death — a federal charge carrying special findings that make him eligible for the death penalty. Prosecutors allege Brown intentionally killed Zarutska and acted with “reckless disregard for human life.”
The case drew national attention when President Donald Trump referenced it publicly on multiple occasions in the fall of 2025, sparking broader debate about public safety and the criminal justice system. North Carolina Republicans subsequently called for the removal of a judge who had allowed Brown’s release on bond for a misdemeanor charge in January 2025 — prior to Zarutska’s killing. Court records show Brown has 14 prior court cases in Mecklenburg County and was sentenced to six years in prison in 2015 for robbery with a dangerous weapon, breaking and entering, and larceny.
Competency Ruling Delays Trial Proceedings
Brown’s defense attorney, Daniel Roberts, filed a motion to delay a Rule 24 hearing — a proceeding used in capital-eligible cases — that had been scheduled for April 30. The motion requests the hearing be pushed back 180 days, citing Brown’s federal custody as a barrier to conducting the competency-related proceedings required under state law. The state has consented to the continuance.
“A capacity hearing is a ‘critical stage’ hearing that cannot currently take place while the defendant remains in federal custody for the parallel federal proceedings,” the motion states. It further notes that even if the court accepted the hospital’s findings, any efforts to restore Brown’s competency could not be carried out while he remains held in federal custody.
Attorney Tim Cannady, who is not involved in the case, explained what the ruling means in practical terms. “If the hospital finds that you can’t understand the proceedings … and you can’t assist your lawyer in providing for your defense, then what they rule is that you are incapable to proceed,” Cannady said. He added that defendants in those situations are typically placed in a secure mental health facility where doctors may attempt to restore their competency through treatment. “I would imagine that he is eventually sent to some hospital or mental health institution in an attempt to either restore that capacity,” Cannady said. “Or they can hold him for the maximum amount” allowed under state law.
Legal experts note that a finding of incompetence does not mean a defendant will be released. Federal authorities are also conducting their own separate competency evaluation, which could further affect the timeline of proceedings.
Impact on the Zarutska Family and What the Case Means
For Zarutska’s family, the latest development adds another layer of uncertainty to an already painful process. Her family called her death “tragic and preventable.”
Lauren Newton, the family’s attorney, acknowledged the slow pace of justice. “We have to let the justice system play out,” Newton said. “The wheels of justice unfortunately move slow, but the family wants to make sure this is done right.”
Newton confirmed the family still has legal options beyond the criminal proceedings. An estate has been recently opened for Zarutska — a necessary step before filing a wrongful death lawsuit. Newton said the civil case could target anyone believed to have contributed to the circumstances surrounding the killing. “Regardless of what happens on the criminal side we always have the civil justice system, and that’s my role,” she said.
Memorials, including murals across Charlotte, continue to honor Zarutska’s memory. “Folks still trying to keep her memory alive is important to the family,” Newton said.
What Comes Next
With the Rule 24 hearing delayed and no clear timeline for when Brown could return to state custody, the state case remains on hold. The federal case and federal competency evaluation are proceeding on a separate track. No trial date has been set in either jurisdiction. The family has indicated it intends to pursue civil legal action as the criminal proceedings continue to develop. Readers following statewide criminal justice developments can find additional coverage at Idaho News and the Idaho News Network.