Stephen Federico Pushes 'Logan's Law' To Close Legal Gaps

Stephen Federico wants action now. The father of his 22-year-old son Logan, a college student who died in a home break-in, is pushing federal lawmakers to plug the legal holes that let career criminals walk free. He calls for "Logan's Law," a bill designed to create a public database for repeat violent offenders, force agencies across counties and states to talk to each other, and make prosecutors answerable when they handle habitual felons poorly. The goal is simple. Eliminate the systemic blind spots that let Logan's accused killer, Alexander Dickey, avoid long-term jail time despite a long history of crime.

It has been one year since Iryna Zarutskaya was murdered. Violent crimes are now fueling a fierce debate over public safety in North Carolina and beyond. "This was preventable," Federico said Thursday at a South Carolina roundtable on cutting crime, which drew U.S. Attorney General Todd Blanche. "And d-----, I'm not going to save just one more life." He insisted he intends to save thousands.

Federico pointed to wider failures in the criminal justice system, drawing parallels to gaps in immigration enforcement. "We are fighting 15 million that crossed our borders, some horrific criminals, some not," he added. "Now we're also fighting the constant felon. How are we supposed to win without Logan's Law?"

The legislation comes from U.S. Rep. Russell Fry of South Carolina and the late Sen. Lindsey Graham, both Republicans from the state. It has not yet formally reached the floor in either the House or the Senate. "Common sense works. Common sense is easy," Fry said, comparing the new idea to existing public registries. "We have a sexual abuse registry that is publicly searchable. This is for violent crimes – it's the same concept."

Attorney General Blanche pushed lawmakers to move fast. "It took a tragedy to push it to the forefront," he said. "But that's okay. I think the worst thing we could do is not act." He expressed hope for support from both sides and noted, "I don't think it's a controversial issue... I know President Trump supports it."

Logan Federico was staying with friends at a home in South Carolina on May 3, 2025, when Dickey allegedly broke in. Columbia police say Dickey drove a stolen vehicle into the neighborhood, forced entry into one house to grab keys and a gun, then pushed his way into the residence where Logan was living. Inside, he took credit cards and shot Federico fatally. The father noted Logan was awake during the intrusion.

"He didn't kill our daughter for a debit card," Federico said. "She was the only one awake who could identify him. He killed a witness."

Dickey's criminal record stretches back to 2013, with convictions for breaking and entering, burglary, grand larceny, strong-arm robbery, possession of a stolen vehicle, and resisting arrest. Critics and authorities argue he slipped through the cracks of a lenient justice system. "What we do as a society right now is make the criminal more important than the innocent," Federico said, criticizing progressive policies such as reduced sentencing and no-cash bail. "We have turned the page. We are the underdogs."

Fox News' David Spunt contributed to this report.