In early May 2025, a young woman named Logan Federico, age 22, was visiting friends in Columbia, South Carolina.
In the middle of the night, a man broke into her home and shot her while she slept.
The suspect has been identified as Alexander Davante Dickey, a man with nearly 40 past arrests and at least 25 felony charges.
Dickey had been recently convicted in 2023 of third-degree burglary and was sentenced to five years – but he received credit for over 410 days already served and got probation.
That meant he wasn’t behind bars when he allegedly committed this home invasion and murder.
A Father Speaks – And the System Fails
Logan’s father, Steve Federico, gave emotional testimony before the House Judiciary Committee during a field hearing in Charlotte, North Carolina.
NEW: Father of 22-year-old woman who was brutally killed by a career criminal, absolutely unleashes during a House hearing against soft-on-crime policies.
“[He] dragged her out of bed naked, forced on her knees with her hands over her head … BANG! Dead. Gone.”
“Why? Because… pic.twitter.com/JuQzIgSNmx
— Collin Rugg (@CollinRugg) September 29, 2025
He spoke about the horror of losing a daughter and insisted that this should not have happened.
He blamed soft-on-crime policies that allowed someone with Dickey’s record to remain free.
Federico described in painful detail how Dickey broke into a neighbor’s home to steal keys and a gun, then entered the home where Logan was staying, then used stolen credit cards while going on a spree.
“It should have never happened,” Federico said.
He called on policymakers, judges, and officials to be held accountable for decisions that let dangerous individuals go free.
This case is not just about one crime, but about how policies meant to soften the justice system can let dangerous people slip through the cracks.
What Conservatives See – and What to Fight For
From a conservative viewpoint, this case is painful but highlights the importance of some key conservative values:
1.) Lenient criminal justice policies can cost lives.
When laws or practices allow early release, probation, or weak sentencing – especially for repeat offenders – dangerous people stay on the streets.
That is exactly what critics argue happened here. Dickey’s record was extensive and yet he was not stopped in time.
2.) Victims and public safety must come first.
In conservative thinking, the system should protect law-abiding citizens.
Logan was an innocent victim. Her life was taken because the system failed to keep someone dangerous off the streets.
Federico’s pain reminds us we cannot place sympathy for criminals above protection for people who follow the law.
3.) Rehabilitation must not replace security for repeat offenders.
Some reform ideas emphasize rehabilitation over prison time. But in cases like this, rehabilitation did not prevent repeated crimes.
Dickey’s many arrests and felonies suggest that for some criminals, decades of leniency did not reform him.
A more cautious approach is needed – especially when the person has already shown a pattern of violent crime.
4.) Judges, prosecutors, and officials should be accountable.
It is not enough to point fingers at criminals.
Those who decide to grant early release or probation or who mis-handle records must bear responsibility.
Federico’s call for accountability resonates with conservative values of personal responsibility and consequences.
5.) This fits a broader national concern.
The House Judiciary Committee has held hearings on “The Consequences of Soft-On-Crime Policies” as part of oversight over rising violent crime.
Conservative voices assert that lenient policies in many jurisdictions – especially in Democrat-run cities – have contributed to higher crime rates.
What About Critics?
Of course, some push back. They say that crime rates overall are falling.
One congressional hearing record noted that murder rates peaked in 2021 and then declined in 2022 and 2023.
Others argue that not all repeat offenders are the same – some can be rehabilitated, some made mistakes, and the justice system must be fair.
These are valid points in some cases.
But what this tragedy shows is the risk of being too generous with people who show a long pattern of crime and danger.
Too much leniency can backfire – and bring harm to innocent people.
What This Means for Nevada
Nevada’s violent crime rate has fallen significantly over 25 years.
Recent reports say that 2024 had the lowest levels of violent and property crime since at least 1986.
That’s encouraging – but it doesn’t mean we are immune.
Nevada for years has had crime rates above the national average, so we must guard against the same policy mistakes others make.
If we ease up in sentencing, parole, or criminal justice oversight, we risk seeing repeat offenders commit new crimes here too.
In daily life, that’s like leaving your door unlocked in a bad neighborhood.
It might look okay on some days, but when someone dangerous slips in, it’s too late. Policymakers must be vigilant.
The Cost of Leniency
The brutal murder of Logan Federico is more than a headline. It is a warning.
When criminal justice policies are too soft, they risk protecting criminals instead of victims.
We need tougher enforcement, stricter sentencing, and accountability for those who let dangerous people walk free.
That is how we protect innocent lives and get justice done.
The opinions expressed by contributors are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Nevada News & Views. This article was written with the assistance of AI. Please verify information and consult additional sources as needed.
