Richard Hudson, Representative of North Carolina, said that the murder of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska resulted from policies allowing a violent offender to be repeatedly released. He called for leadership prioritizing public safety. The statement was made on X.
“Iryna was a 23 year old woman who fled the war in Ukraine just to meet her horrific fate after a dangerous criminal was repeatedly released from jail over and over on serious, dangerous charges,” said Richard Lane Hudson, U.S. Representative from North Carolina. “Iryna had a bright future ahead of her. Sadly, she will never see her home country again and gone is her chance for a new future in America. This tragedy is the direct result of policies that put politics over public safety. Our people deserve commonsense leadership that puts victims first and keeps dangerous criminals behind bars.”
Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, has been charged with murdering 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on Charlotte’s Lynx Blue Line in August 2025. According to ABC News and People, Brown had at least 14 prior arrests, including armed robbery, felony larceny, and misuse of 911. He was diagnosed with schizophrenia after his release from prison in 2020. His case has raised concerns about failures in handling violent repeat offenders and public transit safety.
A report by the North Carolina Sentencing and Policy Advisory Commission found that of 16,340 people released from state prisons in 2019, 49% were rearrested within two years, 20% were reconvicted, and 36% returned to prison. North Carolina Health News reported that offenders with prior justice contacts such as probation revocation had significantly higher odds of reoffending, underscoring persistent challenges in reducing recidivism rates statewide.
The Brennan Center for Justice reported that bail reform has not led to statistically significant increases in violent or property crimes across U.S. states. Similarly, The American Prospect noted that fears of a crime surge tied to bail reform are unsupported by national data, though some local jurisdictions reported mixed outcomes. These findings highlight that broader trends do not link reform measures with higher violent crime rates.
Hudson is the Republican U.S. Representative for North Carolina’s 9th District, first elected in 2013 and now serving his sixth term. According to his official biography and congressional records, Hudson studied at UNC Charlotte, worked as a political consultant, and previously served on congressional staff. His legislative priorities focus on economic growth, national security, crime reduction, and strengthening border enforcement.
