South Carolina AG Calls for Death Penalty in Murder Case
The Attorney General of South Carolina is pushing for the death penalty against a suspect charged with the murder of 22-year-old Logan Federico. This comes after the suspect, already with a troubling history of 39 arrests and 25 felony charges, was previously unconfined.
30-year-old Alexander Devante Dickey reportedly believes he has spent a mere 600 days incarcerated over the past ten years. On May 3, Federico was found deceased at a friend’s home in Columbia. Dickey is accused of breaking in and fatally shooting her before fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle, allegedly using a stolen credit card for the purchase.
This tragic case has gained traction in the public eye, largely due to a hearing by the House Judicial Assembly that is examining the state’s lenient crime policies. This scrutiny followed heartfelt testimony from Logan’s father, Steve Federico, who expressed his frustrations at not having heard from the local prosecutor.
In a letter to prosecutor Byron Gipson dated September 30, Attorney General Alan Wilson specifically requested that the death penalty be pursued for Dickey. In his letter, Wilson outlined the serious aggravating factors in the case, including Dickey’s extensive criminal background and the nature of the crime occurring during a felony.
Wilson did not hold back, indicating that if Gipson and his team felt unprepared to take on this decision, they should understand the consequences of their inaction after reviewing the evidence appropriately. Following Steve Federico’s testimony, Representative Ralph Norman (R-SC) called for the dismissal of local prosecutors involved.
Gipson, who has served as a defense attorney for over two decades, has been criticized by the National Police Association for being too lenient with felons and failing to effectively pursue strict bail policies. The Attorney General gave Gipson a deadline of October 10 to respond concerning the death penalty.
In a letter dated October 1, Gipson responded to Wilson’s demands, labeling them as “reckless” and “irresponsible” for wanting to make a decision without a thorough evaluation of all case evidence just four months post-incident.
The Attorney General announced that senior counsel Melody Brown has been assigned to comprehensively review the details of this case to ensure that it is handled with the utmost accuracy and standard of justice. Wilson expressed confidence in Brown’s experience in ensuring justice in death penalty cases.
Logan’s father, Steve Federico, voiced his support for the Attorney General’s actions, stating he is pleased to see Wilson pursuing the death penalty against Dickey, as it represents a step toward justice for Logan.
