The father of a murdered young woman is calling for ‘drastic changes’ to current laws.
Logan Federico, who aimed to become a teacher, was tragically shot and killed on May 3 this year while visiting friends at the University of South Carolina in Columbia.
The 22-year-old’s life was taken when Alexander Dickey, aged 30, reportedly broke into the fraternity house where she was staying, dragged her out of bed unclothed, ‘forced’ her to her knees, and shot her in the chest with a stolen shotgun.
Dickey is also accused of escaping in a stolen vehicle and using Logan’s credit cards for a shopping spree.
Her devastated father, Stephen Federico, has criticized lawmakers at a Congressional hearing in North Carolina on September 29 for what he describes as lenient crime policies that allowed Logan’s alleged killer to be released multiple times before he took her life.
During his address to federal lawmakers on the House judiciary subcommittee, he asked, “How many of y’all have kids? When I tell you this story… think about your child.
“Think about your child coming home from a night out with their friends, laying down going to sleep, feeling somebody come into their room and wake them.
“And drag her out of bed, naked, force her on her knees with her hands over her head, begging for her life.
“She was 5-foot-3. She weighed 115 lbs… BANG! Dead. Gone. Why? Because Alexander Devonte Dickey – who was arrested 39 goddam times, 25 felonies – was on the street,” he added.
Authorities suspect Dickey had broken into multiple homes before allegedly killing Logan.
According to the New York Post, Dickey’s criminal record includes robbery, drug possession, and larceny, with nearly 40 charges since 2013.
In his emotional testimony, Federico underscored Dickey’s extensive criminal record, stating: “He should have been in jail for over 140 years for all the crimes he committed. You know how much time he spent in prison? A little over 600 days in 10 years.
“He’s only 30 years old. He was committing 2.65 crimes a year since he was 15 years old. But nobody could figure out that he couldn’t be rehabilitated.
“Isn’t that the idea of prison? But no.”
He asserted that the ‘only one thing’ that could have saved his daughter’s life was incarcerating Dickey.
Dickey now faces multiple charges, including murder, two counts of first-degree burglary, possession of a weapon during a violent crime, and possession of a firearm by a prohibited person.
He is also charged with two counts of grand larceny, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, and three counts of financial transaction card theft.
Dickey is currently held at the Lexington County Detention Center without bail, facing a potential life sentence if convicted.
However, for Federico, this is not the justice Logan’s family deserves. He is urging lawmakers to take measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Federico warned during the hearing, arranged to address rising concerns over violent crime and repeat offenders, especially after the killing of Ukrainian woman Iryna Zatutska by a suspect who had been previously released multiple times, that he will continue to be vocal until changes are implemented.
“I will fight until my last breath for my daughter,” he emphasized. “You need to fight for the rest of our children, the rest of the innocents and stop protecting the people that keep taking them from us. Please.
“You have the power. We put you into power to do what you have to do. We’re asking you, we’re begging you all to stop this.”