The South Carolina Attorney General is facing pressure from local prosecutors to pursue the death penalty for a man accused of murdering 22-year-old college student Logan Haley Federico.
On Tuesday, Attorney General Alan Wilson sent a letter to Fifth Circuit lawyer Byron Gipson, urging him to seek the death penalty against Alexander Devonte Dickey, 30. Dickey is accused of fatally shooting Federico during a home invasion in Columbia, South Carolina, in May. Wilson pointed out that the case has “clear legal aggravation factors,” such as the murder occurring during a robbery, along with Dickey’s extensive criminal history spanning over a decade.
In a letter dated September 30, Wilson stated, “His past history and current violent crime charges demonstrate a suitable candidate for the ultimate punishment.”
Logan’s father, Stephen Federico, expressed his support for the Attorney General’s stance, saying, “I think that’s absolutely amazing. Alan Wilson is willing to do what justice is for Logan.”
The Attorney General has given Gipson a deadline of October 10 to declare his intentions regarding the death penalty, warning that his office is prepared to step in if necessary. In response, Gipson criticized Wilson’s deadline as “reckless, irresponsible and unethical,” arguing that it sets a dangerous precedent without the necessary thorough examination of the evidence, especially so soon after the case began.
Gipson noted that key forensic evidence is still pending and mentioned that many of Dickey’s 40 prior arrests were carried out in jurisdictions outside of his own. He emphasized that decisions on those cases rest with the prosecutors handling them.
Stephen Federico has doubts about Gipson’s commitment to pursuing the death penalty, stating he hasn’t seen him do so in previous cases. “He never sought a death penalty in any of his murder trials from what I understand,” Stephen said. “There’s no reason to think about this differently.”
