Warning: The audio includes graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing.

An audio recording has emerged of a conversation between Decarlos Brown, the suspect in the Charlotte train stabbing case, and his sister, Tracey Brown. This phone call took place shortly after he was detained for the alleged fatal stabbing of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian refugee, on a light rail train.

The conversation, recorded on Aug. 28, just six days after the deadly attack, was provided to the Daily Mail by Brown’s sister. It marked the first time the 34-year-old suspect has been heard speaking since the stabbing.

In the audio, Brown can be heard admitting that he injured his hand during the stabbing, while acknowledging that he did not know Zarutska and had never spoken to her. 

“I hurt my hand, stabbing her. I don’t even know the lady,” Brown told his sister. “I never said not one word to the lady at all. That’s scary, ain’t it. Why would somebody stab somebody for no reason?”

Booking photo of Decarlos Dejuan Brown Jr., taken Aug. 28, 2025, days after the fatal light-rail stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska.  (Mecklenburg County Sheriff’s Office)

Federal authorities announced Tuesday that Decarlos Brown has been federally charged with one count of committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system.

He has also been charged with first-degree murder in state court for allegedly stabbing Zarutska to death.

Her family said Zarutska was a passionate artist and graduate of Synergy College in Kyiv, where she earned a degree in art and restoration. She was remembered for her creativity, her love of animals, her determination and her eagerness to learn.