The tragic case of Decarlos Brown, the suspect in the fatal stabbing of a Ukrainian woman on the Charlotte light rail, has raised serious concerns about mental health and public safety. Brown's mother and sister have come forward, revealing that he has struggled with mental illness for years after being released from prison. They claim that he believed there was a material in his body that controlled his actions.
On August 22, 2023, Decarlos Brown, 34, was arrested for allegedly stabbing 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska three times while riding the Lynx Blue Line in Charlotte. According to an affidavit obtained by ABC News, Brown's actions were both shocking and brutal. Audio recordings of conversations between Brown and his sister, made shortly after his arrest, reveal his confusion regarding the attack. “Make sure it was me that did it, not the material,” Brown insists in the recordings, emphasizing that he did not know Zarutska at all. “I never said not one word to the lady at all. That scary, ain't it?”
Brown has been charged by the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Western District of North Carolina with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system, which could potentially make him eligible for the death penalty. U.S. Attorney Russ Ferguson has stated, “This brutal attack on an innocent woman simply trying to get to her destination is an attack on the American way of life. Iryna deserves justice, and we will bring justice to her and her family.”
In interviews with news outlets, Brown's family has expressed their deep concern regarding his mental health issues, particularly since his release from prison in 2020. His mother, Michelle Dewitt, revealed that her son was diagnosed with schizophrenia and exhibited troubling changes in behavior after his incarceration. “He wasn't the normal Carlos, the fun Carlos,” Dewitt told ABC News. She described instances of violence, such as slamming doors and yelling, as well as Brown talking to himself.
Despite their best efforts, Dewitt and her husband struggled to get Brown the help he needed. After noticing his increasing violent behavior, they took him to a mental health hospital, only to be told there was not enough room for him. Due to a lack of immediate threat to himself, the hospital could not admit him. Frustrated and worried for their safety, Dewitt eventually sought legal intervention to secure treatment for her son. A mental health facility briefly held him for 14 days but eventually released him back into their care.
After being released, Dewitt tried to establish a routine for Brown, hoping it would help him manage his condition. However, when he stopped taking his medication, those efforts fell short. In a desperate situation, the couple decided to drop him off at a shelter, identified as the Roof Above Lucille Giles Men’s Shelter in Charlotte, operated by a nonprofit organization. Dewitt later observed her son wandering the streets and noticed instances where he was seen on public transport.
Brown's criminal record includes multiple charges, such as larceny and breaking and entering, stemming from a five-year prison sentence for robbery with a dangerous weapon that began in 2015. Earlier this year, he also faced charges for misusing the 911 system. Despite a history of 14 prior arrests, he remained on the streets leading up to this devastating incident.
Brown's sister, Tracey Brown, acknowledges the severity of the situation but emphasizes the need for proper mental health care. “At the end of the day, I'm not making any excuse for what happened,” she stated. “I am saying that if he had the proper care, this wouldn’t have happened.”
As the community grapples with the implications of this tragedy, questions remain about how to better address mental health issues and ensure public safety. Brown's next court appearance is scheduled for September 19, and it remains unclear whether he has legal representation.
