The father of a Ukrainian refugee who was fatally stabbed on a Charlotte commuter train last month was unable to attend his daughter's funeral because Ukrainian rules bar men of fighting age from leaving the country, the family said Wednesday.
Iryna Zarutska, 20, was remembered by relatives in an obituary as "a gifted and passionate artist" who emigrated to the United States with her mother and two siblings in August 2022 amid Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Her father, Stanislav Zarutskyi, remained in Ukraine because he is under the age threshold that currently restricts men from traveling abroad during the mobilization.
CCTV footage of the attack, released by authorities and widely shared online, showed Zarutska being stabbed aboard a train. The alleged attacker, identified by police as Decarlos Brown Jr., was described by authorities as not having shown obvious signs of prior violent behavior or mental distress. The killing prompted shock in Charlotte and beyond.
Family members described Zarutska as creative and warm. The obituary said she graduated from Synergy College in Kyiv with a degree in art and restoration, enjoyed sculpting and designing clothing, and often cared for neighbors' pets. In the United States she worked in retail and at a local pizzeria while studying English and pursuing modeling and photography collaborations. She had hoped to train as a veterinary assistant.
Relatives said the family has endured years of pain tied to the war in Ukraine. They noted that Stanislav had worked as a builder before the conflict and that Zarutska's mother, Anna, had been a homemaker with a talent for needlework. The family split their lives between countries after the invasion; the parents and children settled in Charlotte while Stanislav remained at home.
Zarutska is survived by her parents, her sister Valeriia, her brother Bohdan and a partner identified by family as Stas Nikulytsia. An aunt told reporters the family has struggled with intense public attention since the killing, and that Zarutska's mother has been too frightened to leave the house in Charlotte.
The stabbing touched off national reaction. President Donald Trump called the killing "horrible" and suggested the National Guard might be deployed in the city; commentators and some readers criticized national outlets for what they said was limited early coverage of the case.
Authorities released limited information about the investigation in the days after the attack. The family said they were trying to grieve in private and asked for time and space.
Zarutska's death has highlighted the personal consequences of the war that has displaced millions of Ukrainians and separated families. Relatives and friends recalled her for kindness and creativity, and for small routines such as walking neighborhood pets and sharing handmade gifts, details that contrasted sharply with the violence of her final moments captured on camera.