Iryna Zarutska’s tragic death has deeply affected those who knew her, especially her boyfriend, Stanislav “Stas” Nikulytsia. At just 21, Stas has now broken his silence, sharing his grief publicly for the first time.
Earlier this week, Stas posted a touching photo of himself and Iryna in swimsuits on Instagram, captioned with a simple broken heart emoji. He also updated his bio to include a mushroom emoji—one of Iryna’s favorite symbols—along with another broken heart, showing the depth of his sorrow.
In his Instagram stories, Stas criticized the judge responsible for releasing Iryna’s alleged attacker, Decarlos Brown, without bail earlier this year. Brown, with a long history of arrests, was released in January. Shockingly, only seven months later, on August 22, he allegedly stabbed Iryna to death on a Charlotte light rail train.
That fateful night, Iryna had messaged her boyfriend saying she would be home soon. When she didn’t arrive, her family traced her phone to the station and soon discovered the horrifying truth: she had been fatally attacked.
Iryna had fled Ukraine in 2022 with her mother and siblings, seeking safety and a new life in America. She worked at an assisted living facility, where she was cherished by both colleagues and residents. Over 100 residents attended her funeral to pay their respects.
Her family expressed their desire to build a future in the U.S., not become a burden. “Iryna came here to find peace and safety,” her uncle told PEOPLE magazine. “Instead, her life was stolen in the most horrific way.”
This is a heartbreaking story of love, hope, and devastating loss.
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