‘Furious’ father asks how ‘career criminal’ with nearly 40 arrests was free to kill daughter
He lost his daughter to a man with nearly 40 arrests.
Now, this father is asking how that criminal was free to commit murder.
A Weekend Visit Turns Tragic
Logan Federico, a 22-year-old college student from Waxhaw, North Carolina, had a bright future ahead of her.
She was an aspiring teacher with a passion for working with children, a dream she developed after babysitting her neighbors.
Logan was studying at Central Piedmont Community College and working two jobs while planning to attend a four-year university.
In early May, she decided to visit friends at the University of South Carolina in Columbia for the weekend.
It was a spontaneous trip; she wasn’t even originally planning to go Friday night.
That’s the thing that’s just gut-wrenching. She wasn’t even supposed to be there. She was supposed to be home Friday.
— Stephen Federico, Logan’s father
A Father’s Shock and Grief
Logan’s father, Stephen Federico, recounted the moment he learned the unthinkable had happened.
He was golfing when his wife called, her screams conveying the horrific news.
Then, I heard … the screams from my wife on the phone and … she didn’t want to tell me that, and I had to kind of pull it out of her. And she finally said Logan’s gone, and I said, ‘What do you mean gone?’ She said dead. And that moment, I had no reaction. I was in shock.
— Stephen Federico, Logan’s father
The news felt like a “kick in the stomach,” a wave of panic washing over him.
The Random Act of Violence
Police say in the early hours of May 3rd, 30-year-old Alexander Dickey entered the house on Cypress Street where Logan was staying.
He allegedly stole credit and debit cards.
Tragically, he then encountered Logan and fatally shot her.
Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook described the crime as “random.”
He also referred to the suspect, Dickey, as a “career criminal.”
Logan was pronounced dead at the scene around 11 a.m.
Authorities emphasized that Logan was “a true victim and not an intended target.”
The Suspect’s Actions and Pursuit
According to police, Dickey drove a stolen vehicle to the neighborhood that night.
He broke into one home, stole keys and a firearm, before entering the house where Logan was staying.
After the shooting, Dickey allegedly went on a “shopping spree” using the stolen cards.
The stolen vehicle he was using later broke down.
Police tracked him as a person of interest to a residence in Gaston, SC.
When authorities arrived on May 3rd, Dickey allegedly fled into the woods.
The search continued into the next day.
On May 4th, a resident reported seeing Dickey emerge from the woods, steal another car, and wreck it.
He then allegedly fled on foot back to the Gaston residence and forced his way inside.
Authorities surrounded the home, and Dickey allegedly tried to set it on fire before being detained by deputies.
Logan’s Enduring Spirit and Lost Potential
Stephen Federico painted a picture of a vibrant young woman.
He described Logan’s personality as “electric… outgoing, personable, infectious.”
She had a “huge heart,” always going out of her way to include others.
Huge heart. Somebody that cared intensely about people that would go out of her way to make somebody feel included and find the people that felt excluded and make sure she pulled them in.
— Stephen Federico, Logan’s father
Her father said her murder robbed the world of a kind person and robbed future students of a great teacher.
The Question Haunting a Father
Upon learning that the suspect, Alexander Dickey, was a “career criminal,” Stephen Federico was “furious.”
Dickey reportedly has nearly 40 criminal and traffic charges dating back to 2013 across different counties.
Learning the extent of his history was “shocking. Absolutely shocking.”
That was shocking. Absolutely shocking. I got a name, but obviously, I didn’t get a lot of information. They were still investigating the whole background. They told me he was a career criminal. We referred him to something else. It is what it is — that’s the way I feel. But yeah, it was a shock that he was actually out on the streets.
— Stephen Federico, Logan’s father
Dickey had reportedly received a probation sentence for a burglary charge in 2023, which was later reduced.
This detail underscores the father’s desperate question about why a man with such a history was not incarcerated.
Seeking Justice for Logan
Dickey faces numerous charges, including murder and multiple burglary counts.
He was given a bond hearing where Logan’s family was present.
Stephen Federico plans to attend all court hearings, determined to see justice served for his daughter.
We’re gonna get this guy. I’ll see to it.
— Stephen Federico, Logan’s father
He expressed gratitude for the swift work of the Columbia police officers, calling them “superheroes” and “special people.”
Dickey’s next court appearance is scheduled for July 25, and he faces the possibility of life in prison.