💔 “She was what this country needed.” — Stephen Federico’s voice breaks as he remembers his 22-year-old daughter, Logan, whose bright future was stolen in the most devastating way. 😢

What makes this even more unbearable? The man behind it all had 39 prior arrests and 25 felonies, yet still walked free — until the night everything changed.

Now, Stephen vows he won’t stop fighting until the system that failed his daughter is exposed and rebuilt from the ground up. 🕊️👇 Full story below 👇

“She Was What This Country Needed”: The Tragic Murder of Logan Federico and a Father’s Fight for Justice

In the early hours of May 3, 2025, 22-year-old Logan Federico, a vibrant college student from Waxhaw, North Carolina, met a horrifying end. Visiting friends at a rental home near the University of South Carolina in Columbia’s Old Shandon neighborhood, Logan had returned from a night out around 3 a.m. What should have been a safe haven turned into a nightmare when Alexander Devonte Dickey, a 30-year-old career criminal with an extensive rap sheet, broke into the property. Police reports detail how Dickey first invaded a neighboring home, stealing items including a firearm, credit cards, and vehicle keys. He then entered the house where Logan was staying, confronted her in her room, and fired a fatal shot to her chest. The Richland County Coroner’s Office confirmed the cause of death as a homicide, shattering the lives of her family and friends.

Logan was no ordinary young woman; she was described by her father, Stephen Federico, as “a strong, fun, loving individual” with dreams of becoming a teacher. An avid Taylor Swift fan, she shared concerts and cherished moments with her dad, who called himself her “hero.” Standing at just 5 feet 3 inches and weighing 115 pounds, Logan’s gentle spirit belied her fighting spirit—she advocated for the underdog and cared deeply for others. “She was what this country needed,” Stephen poignantly stated in a recent interview, encapsulating the profound loss not just to her family, but to society at large. Her murder has ignited a firestorm of debate over criminal justice failures, with Stephen vowing, “I won’t rest until the failures which led to my daughter’s murder are fixed.”

The suspect, Alexander Dickey, embodies the perils of repeat offenders cycling through the system. At the time of the crime, Dickey had amassed 39 arrests and 25 felony charges in South Carolina alone, spanning over a decade of burglaries, thefts, and violent offenses. Despite this history, he had served only about 600 days in prison over 10 years, often released early due to plea deals, record-keeping errors, and lenient sentencing. After shooting Logan, Dickey fled in a stolen vehicle, embarked on a spending spree using pilfered credit cards—including Logan’s—and even broke into another home, setting it ablaze before his eventual arrest in Gaston, South Carolina. “After an hour and a half after he executed Logan, he was spending her money,” Stephen recounted bitterly.

Stephen Federico’s anguish peaked during a House Judiciary Subcommittee hearing on violent crime in Charlotte, North Carolina, on September 29, 2025. Seated before a photo of his daughter, he delivered a gut-wrenching testimony that left lawmakers and attendees in stunned silence. “Think about your child coming home from a night out with friends, lying down, going to sleep, feeling somebody come into the room…and wake them. And drag her out of bed. Naked. Forced on her knees. With her hands over her head. Begging for her life. Begging for her hero. Her father. Me. That couldn’t be there,” he said, his voice trembling. He continued, “She was 5 foot 3. She weighed 115 pounds. Bang! Dead. Gone. Why? Because Alexander Devonte Dickey, who was arrested 39 times, 25 felonies, was on the streets.” Federico lambasted “soft-on-crime” policies, plea bargains, and judicial oversights that kept Dickey free, arguing that repeat offenders escalate to murder without stricter accountability.

The hearing, focused on victims of violent crime, highlighted broader systemic issues. Joined by other grieving families, like that of Mia Alderman whose granddaughter was murdered in 2020, Federico called for reforms to prevent such tragedies. He has advocated for “Logan’s Law,” inspired by North Carolina’s “Iryna’s Law,” which aims to expedite appeals, expand execution methods, and impose harsher penalties on habitual offenders. “The biggest part of that crime is reoffenders, and I think they’ve proven that when they reoffend, they escalate,” he told WCNC Charlotte. Federico believes errors in Dickey’s record and lenient deals could have kept him imprisoned for over 140 years, potentially saving Logan’s life.

Public and political outrage has mounted. South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson urged Fifth Circuit Solicitor Byron Gipson to seek the death penalty, citing the murder’s occurrence during a burglary and Dickey’s aggravating criminal history. Rep. Ralph Norman called for Gipson’s impeachment over alleged mishandling and lack of communication with the family. Rep. Nancy Mace demanded federal prosecutors take over, labeling Dickey a “lunatic on a rampage.” The Federicos hope interstate elements—like stolen cards from North Carolina—could shift the case federally. On social media, posts echo Stephen’s plea, with Fox News amplifying his words: “I’m not going away. My daughter isn’t going away.”

Logan’s story resonates amid rising concerns over “soft-on-crime” policies that critics say prioritize offenders over victims. In states like South Carolina and North Carolina, lawmakers debate tougher bail restrictions and mandatory minimums for felons. Stephen’s testimony has galvanized calls for accountability, with him declaring to Dickey through media: “You can’t kill my daughter’s spirit.” As the case progresses, with Dickey held at Lexington County Detention Center, the family awaits justice—potentially the death penalty, which Stephen deems the only fitting response for what he calls an “execution.”

Logan’s death is more than a statistic; it’s a clarion call. In a nation grappling with crime waves, her father’s unyielding resolve underscores the human cost of systemic lapses. “This is what Logan would want me to do. Logan was a fighter,” Stephen said. Through his pain, he fights to ensure no other family endures the same heartbreak, pushing for a justice system that protects the innocent rather than recidivists. As investigations continue and reforms gain traction, Logan’s memory endures as a beacon for change—”what this country needed.”