Case Progression in Murder of Irina Zalutka
A federal court is handling the criminal case against a man accused of murdering Irina Zalutka. Notably, one of his lawyers, Joshua Snow Kendrick, is also campaigning as a Democrat.
On September 25, shortly after Ms. Zalutka’s tragic death in a North Carolina metro area, Kendrick was appointed as a “skilled attorney” for the accused, DeCarlos Brown Jr. This decision was made by U.S. Magistrate Judge Susan Rodriguez. In cases involving the death penalty, defendants are entitled to representation by experienced attorneys.
Kendrick’s responsibilities have kept him quite occupied. He filed the initial complaint for Brown and has been actively involved since, including attempts to block the release of police body camera footage and other evidences to the press.
Interestingly, Kendrick is also running for a seat in the South Carolina House of Representatives. He confirmed on March 26 that he had registered to represent the state’s 22nd District as a Democrat.
The email already associated with his political campaign matches the one used in motions filed in the Brown murder case. Kendrick has yet to respond to inquiries regarding his campaign from various news outlets.
The deadline for candidates in the upcoming South Carolina elections has already closed, allowing Kendrick to compete in the June 9 Democratic primary without challengers. However, should incumbent state Rep. Paul Wickensimer secure the Republican nomination, he could present a significant challenge in the general election.
District 22, which is situated right outside Greenville’s downtown, leans heavily Republican. In the 2024 election, Wickensimer won decisively against his Democratic rival, with a margin of 60% to 39.8%. Republicans have held this seat since at least 2012.
Aside from his legal career, Kendrick’s campaign page suggests that he has not previously sought public office. His platform details are sparse so far.
His ActBlue donation page encourages support for his candidacy, asserting he’s committed to representing constituents and addressing their concerns.
The South Carolina Democratic Party does list Kendrick as the official candidate for the 22nd District, but has not offered further insights about his candidacy. Their attempts to provide comments received no response.
In Brown’s case, he was declared mentally incompetent at the state level, yet he still faces federal charges related to a fatal incident on public transportation. If convicted, the death penalty could be on the table.
