The details of Irina “Ira” Yarmolenko’s death are still fuzzy –one year ago today she was found lifeless, lying on the banks of the Catawba River. Investigators would later determine the cause of death to be asphyxiation.

Starting on May 2, when Yarmolenko would have turned 21, and throughout this week, everyone touched by this tragedy is commemorating Ira’s bright spirit by writing her name on their arms. When it washes off, simply write it again.

The event, which first appeared on Facebook and would later spread by word-of-mouth, was started by a friend of Ira’s, Katie Bearden.  She and Yarmolenko were both active in UNC Charlotte’s Department of Theatre, both were involved with several theatrical performances sponsored by the Department.

Bearden was inspired to start the movement to have everyone write “Ira” on their arm from a memory she shared with Yarmolenko. Bearden said that, “I didn't want this to be a time of sorrow or bitterness;” most would agree that this would not be Yarmolenko’s desire. Bearden assured that, “No matter how faded or smeared her name gets on my arm, I will rewrite it; in order to remember her and to share with others.”

The most common word used by Yarmolenko’s friends when describing her is: “inspiration.” Bearden said that Yarmolenko “inspired [her] to live [her] life by opportunity.” The many lives that Ira Yarmolenko touched during her time at UNC Charlotte were all impacted when word spread that she had died. Bearden also commented on what it has been like since Yarmolenko’s death saying that, “Not a day goes by that I don't look at her picture and miss her.”

About the investigation
Mount Holly Police arrested two cousins, Mark Carver, 40, and Neal Leon Cassada Jr., 54, on December 13, 2008. They were each charged with first-degree murder and conspiracy to commit murder.

The timeline of Monday, May 5 was marked by 4 events: a final exam at 9:45 a.m., a visit to the bank at 10:18 a.m., a visit to Goodwill to drop off donations, and a visit to Jackson’s Java -where she worked as a barista- at 10:50 a.m. After leaving Jackson’s Java, Yarmolenko would not return to her on-campus apartment. Investigators found DNA evidence that linked Carver and Cassada to the crime scene; they still are Gaston County’s prime suspects in the investigation.

The two suspects have since been released from the Gaston County Jail and are being monitored while under house arrest. Carver and Cassada both deny the charges being brought against them. In February, when they were released, their bond was also reduced from $1 million to $100,000.

5 comments

Bill Widman

Mon Aug 3 2009 05:06

This is Bill Widman with Friends of Debbie Key. www.debbiekey.org
I am very upset that I have not seen many posts about Ira since February of this year.
Please let it be known that I am not giving up the quest to bring Ira's TRUE killer(s) to justice, and that I will not be silenced before her case is solved.
I live in the Chapel Hill area and have met many people who knew this special person.
Thank you.

Ricky T.

Thu Jun 4 2009 14:36

FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! Are we to assume there is no news happening related to the University over the summer? Or more that "We don't want to do the news; it's our summer breaks, too!" Not acceptable. Where's an update on football, the school's budget, the Yarmolenko case, basketball recruiting or anything? Just because it's the summer, it doesn't mean we stop caring about our school for a few months. Somebody get to work. I hope it's not going to be another year of picking up the same old crap when I walk into fretwell each morning.

Ricky T.

Mon May 11 2009 06:38

Well yes, I was kinda joking about the mugshots. All I know is if I was these guys' lawyers, I'd take them out for a makeover before a jury is selected because they sure do look like the kind of backwoods hicks that would do this kind of thing. Of course, in places like Mount Holly, most of the people look like that, so maybe the backwoods hicks jury will be sympathetic.

Your name

Sat May 9 2009 18:44

You can't base justice on outward appearance that is not how the judicial system works, but yes we can only hope that the real murder(s) are found.

Ricky T.

Wed May 6 2009 06:38

I have faith that justice will be found in this case. The Mount Holly police put their full attention on this matter and brought in two people that should have been arrested based on mugshots alone, regardless of any actual evidence. Anyone who looks like these two guys should be rounded up, because odds are they have done something jailworthy.

Good article, Will. I'm looking forward to a stellar year for the UTimes and NinerOnline. I look forward to grabbing a paper on my way to classes each week for the first time since I started coming here. Keep up the good work!

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