The sorrowful words of a father from Washington highlight a tragedy that resonates deeply with many Americans. Stephen Federico’s daughter, Logan, aged 22, tragically lost her life in May while staying at a friend’s home in Columbia, South Carolina. According to police, Alexander Devonte Dickey, 30, broke into the residence and shot Logan before using stolen credit and debit cards for shopping.
What shocked many is not only the crime itself but also the fact that court documents revealed Dickey had a history of 39 arrests and 25 felony charges prior to Logan’s murder. Yet, over the last decade, he had spent only 600 days in prison. “He should have been in prison for over 140 years for all the crimes he committed,” Federico shared, expressing his frustration with the system. “He has been committing 2.65 crimes a year since he was 15. Did no one realize he couldn’t be rehabilitated?”
“More people fight for the rights of career criminals than they fight for their daughters’ rights to be safe.”
– Stephen Federico
During a Congressional hearing held by the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime and Federal Oversight, which discussed issues stemming from the murder of Iryna Zarutska, a Ukrainian commuter, Stephen brought attention to the problem of repeat offenders. “Imagine your child coming home for the night, sleeping peacefully, then being awoken by an intruder asking for her life,” he lamented, clearly moved.
“You’re tired of my face and my voice, and I’m tired of my voice until this is fixed. I’ll fight until my last breath for my daughter.”
– Stephen Federico
During the hearing, the atmosphere turned tense when Deborah Ross, Dn.C., mistakenly identified a photo of Logan as Zarutska, prompting Stephen to correct her firmly. “This is my daughter… Logan Federico,” he insisted. “What do you know about her?”
After the hearing, he noted that he hadn’t anticipated it would evoke such strong emotions. “Honestly, it went a lot differently than some members of the committee expected,” he relayed. “I had prepared everything with a team, but when Ross ignited something in me… it changed everything.” Federico mentioned feeling enraged by Ross’s lack of familiarity with either case.
Now, Stephen is determined to transform his grief into meaningful action, advocating for a federal “Logan Act” aimed at enhancing communication between counties, holding prosecutors accountable, and closing loopholes that allow repeat offenders back onto the streets. “I want a federal Logan law,” he stated. “If you start at the federal level, it will cascade down to the states.” He pointed out the flaws in current systems, where authorities focus only on local crimes and overlook offenders’ extensive criminal histories.
Stephen has received support from South Carolina Rep. Russell Fry, who is on board with his initiative. Meanwhile, South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson is urging the Fifth Circuit’s Attorney Byron Gipson to pursue the death penalty against Dickey, asserting that the case bears numerous aggravating factors due to Dickey’s violent past.
Wilson emphasized the importance of Gibbs making a timely decision regarding the death penalty, but Gipson critiqued the Attorney General’s timeline as “reckless” and lacking thoroughness.
Rep. Nancy Mace expressed her concern, arguing that Wilson’s actions might undermine the case. “Logan and her family deserve justice,” she said, voicing support for both the proposed law and the push for accountability.
Federico believes his family’s pain is part of a larger issue, and he plans to unite other families affected by similar tragedies. “There are many of us. We’re going to rally together because countless parents are hurting right now. We’re going to fight,” he said.
He confessed to feelings of guilt over his daughter’s death, hoping that his efforts might somehow lead to her forgiveness. “There’s nothing that can change the fact that I feel I failed her,” he reflected. “But I think what I’m doing now… maybe it’s helping.”
Standing at 5’3” and weighing 115 pounds, Logan was murdered in an off-campus housing unit near the University of South Carolina. Stephen has made it his mission to understand how Dickey was allowed to roam free and is committed to seeking justice. “They don’t know what’s coming,” he declared, vowing to uncover the truth.
