Father of Murdered College Student Criticizes Lax Crime Policies

The father of Logan Federico, a 22-year-old aspiring teacher fatally shot during a break-in at her university in South Carolina, voiced his anger at lawmakers for inadequate crime prevention measures. Speaking at a congressional hearing, Stephen Federico recounted the horrific details of his daughter’s murder to emphasize the failures of the justice system.

Logan was visiting friends at the University of South Carolina when a repeat offender, Alexander Dickey, broke into the residence early on May 3. Dickey, who had a long criminal record including numerous arrests for break-ins and felonies, drove a stolen vehicle into her neighborhood, broke into her friend’s home, and then entered the house where Logan was sleeping. He allegedly forced her to her knees, naked, and begged for her life before executing her.

Federico emphasized that Dickey, who had a record of 39 charges since 2013 and received only a five-year sentence in 2023 for burglary, was able to roam free due to a lenient system. “He should have been jailed for over 140 years for his crimes. Instead, he spent just over 600 days in prison,” Federico stated, highlighting the failure to rehabilitate or properly incarcerate violent offenders.

He revealed that Dickey, a 30-year-old known for violent crimes, was on the street because he was released early for compliance. After the murder, Dickey stole car keys and a firearm from another home, then shot Logan. The following day, authorities tracked him down after he stole a car, crashed it, and forced his way into a residence, where he was arrested after attempting to set the house on fire.

Federico condemned the justice system, saying, “He shouldn’t be out on the street. He committed numerous crimes, and yet he was only in prison briefly. He was only 30 years old.” He vowed to continue fighting for justice and urged lawmakers to change policies that allow repeat offenders to remain free.

The accused faces multiple charges, including murder and weapons possession, and potentially a life sentence. Federico’s heart-wrenching testimony underscores the urgent need for reform to prevent tragedies like his daughter’s from happening again.