FACE OF FEAR: IRYNA'S GUT-WRENCHING LOOK OF TERROR WHEN FATALLY STABBED BY CON OUT ON BOND
Crime Stories with Nancy Grace
iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline
4.2 • 8.1K Ratings
🗓️ 12 September 2025
⏱️ 47 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska, just 23 years old, leaves her homeland to start a new life in the United States, along with her family. Known for her love of animals and art, Iryna dreams of becoming a veterinary assistant.
Her tight-knit family supports her as she adapts to life in the U.S. Mastering English and landing work at a pizza restaurant. But one Friday night after work, things take a terrifying turn that could have possibly been avoided, according to some lawmakers.
After her shift, Iryna boards the Charlotte, North Carolina, Transit System, unknowingly sitting in front of Decarlos Brown Jr., a man with a violent past and rap sheet.
Without warning, Decarlos Brown pulls out a pocketknife, stands, and lunges over the seat, stabbing Iryna in the neck. As he walks away, blood dripping from the knife onto the train floor, Iryna fights desperately for her life, clutching her neck but unable to call for help.
Passengers just watch, some recording the brutal attack and her bleeding out, as others flee in panic, doing nothing to help the dying passenger, Iryna. Decarlos Brown paces the train, changes his shirt, and calmly exits the train at the next stop.
Her fatal stabbing has generated national outrage after the video of the killing was released, and the suspect was identified as having a history of violent crimes and should be in jail. The public questions how a repeat offender was free to roam.
Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, was charged with committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system and is being held without bond.
Joining Nancy Grace today:
- Kelly Hyman - Trial & Civil Attorney, TV Legal Analyst, Podcast Host: "Once Upon a Crime In Hollywood", Twitter: @kellyhyman1, TikTok: @kelly.hyman, Instagram: @Kelly_Hyman1
- Dr. Sue Cornbluth - Family and Relationship Expert, Owner of Dr. Sue & You, Author of “Building Self-Esteem in Children and Teens Who Are Adopted or Fostered;" YouTube: DrSueAndYou
- Tom Green - Former Chief Deputy with Washoe County Sheriff’s Office, Homicide Detective & Cold Case Squad Burglary/Fraud Detective (high-tech surveillance & covert surveillance); Currently: Private Investigator, Owner of Nevada Investigative Services LLC
- Joseph Scott Morgan - Professor of Forensics: Jacksonville State University, Author of "Blood Beneath My Feet,"and Host: "Body Bags with Joseph Scott Morgan;" X @JoScottForensic
- Lauren Conlin - Podcaster/Reporter/Host- Co-Host of "PopCrimeTV" on YouTube, Website: www.popcrime.tv and primetimecrimeshow.com: X- @Conlin_Lauren, Instagram: @LaurenEmilyConlin, YouTube: @PopCrimeTV
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Transcript
Click on a timestamp to play from that location
| 0:00.0 | This is an I-Heart podcast. |
| 0:04.7 | Crime Stories with Nancy Grace. |
| 0:10.0 | The face of fear, Arina's gut-wrenching look of terror, when she is fatally stabbed by a convict, of course, out on bond. |
| 0:26.6 | Good evening. I'm Nancy Grace. This is Crime Stories. I want to thank you for being with us. |
| 0:31.8 | At just 23 years old, refugee Irene Zerutska leaves everything behind to start a new life in the United States with her family. |
| 0:39.1 | She dives right in, making friends, taking care of her neighbors, and exploring new places. |
| 0:44.3 | Her future seems bright, but the American dream isn't as promising as she hoped. |
| 0:50.3 | Just shaking us to the core that this beautiful young girl leaves Ukraine to come here, to chase the American dream, to leave the violence, the poverty, the war torn drama in Ukraine. |
| 1:12.6 | And she makes it. |
| 1:13.6 | Her dream comes true. |
| 1:14.6 | She comes to the U.S. only to be stabbed dead on public transportation by a guy with |
| 1:25.6 | arrest now bordering on 20 arrests, 14 that we know. |
| 1:33.3 | Look at her. |
| 1:34.3 | She's minding her own business. |
| 1:36.3 | Oh, dear. |
| 1:38.3 | This is the guy. |
| 1:40.3 | And these are just a few of the photos, let me say, the photos I have of him. |
| 1:47.0 | There are so many more. |
| 1:50.0 | Why did Arena have to die? |
| 1:53.0 | This is causing reverberations all the way to DC. |
| 1:59.0 | Listen. |
| 2:00.0 | On August 22nd, Arena Zarutzka was stabbed to death on the rail system in Charlotte, North Carolina by a savage career criminal. |
... |
Please login to see the full transcript.
Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.
Generated transcripts are the property of iHeartPodcasts and CrimeOnline and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.
Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.