Stephen Federico’s world shattered when his 22-year-old daughter, Logan, was murdered in a South Carolina fraternity house. Visiting her boyfriend during graduation festivities in May, Logan’s weekend of joy turned deadly. A career criminal, Alexander Dickey, 30, allegedly broke into the house, forced Logan to her knees, and shot her with a stolen shotgun. Dickey, with 39 prior arrests, including 25 felonies, had been released early from a burglary sentence. His freedom, despite a history of robbery and violence, has sparked outrage over systemic failures in the justice system.

Just months later, another tragedy struck. Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee, was brutally stabbed to death on a Charlotte light rail train in August. Decarlos Brown Jr., 34, with a record of violence and mental health issues, attacked her unprovoked while she texted her boyfriend. The attack, captured on video, stunned the nation. Like Dickey, Brown’s release despite his dangerous past has fueled demands for accountability.

Logan, a Taylor Swift enthusiast with dreams of teaching, and Iryna, who fled war-torn Ukraine to train as a veterinary assistant, were both at the cusp of their futures. Their deaths, preventable had their killers been incarcerated, have left communities reeling. Federico, a grieving father working 60 hours a week, now fights for justice as a second job. “Logan’s murder was preventable,” he said, his voice heavy with sorrow. “Nobody cares, and the system failed her.”

The parallels between the cases are chilling. No one intervened as Logan was killed, with her boyfriend and others asleep nearby. On the train, passengers froze as Iryna collapsed. Federico blames a broken system that allowed Dickey, whose fingerprints were allegedly mishandled between 2013 and 2015, to walk free. Brown, too, slipped through the cracks, his mental health issues unaddressed.

Federico is pushing for federal charges against Dickey, including under the Hobbs Act, as the suspect allegedly stole and used Logan’s credit cards across state lines. He’s in talks with the Department of Justice, hoping for the death penalty. The U.S. Attorney for South Carolina, Bryan Stirling, is reviewing the case, while Federico criticizes local officials for leniency. Brown faces federal charges for his crime on public transit, with the possibility of capital punishment under the current administration.

Federico’s fight extends beyond his daughter. “I’m not just out for Logan. I’m out for everyone,” he said, urging parents to stay vigilant. His pain is raw: “I should be able to mourn my daughter.” The tragedies of Logan and Iryna highlight a justice system struggling to contain repeat offenders, leaving families to pick up the pieces and communities to question how many more lives could be saved.