A promising 22-year-old college student, Logan Federico, was tragically killed in her sleep by a man with a lengthy criminal record, who subsequently stole her credit cards and went on a shopping spree, according to police reports. Federico, a resident of Waxhaw, North Carolina, was visiting friends in Columbia, South Carolina, on May 3 when the horrifying incident took place. The Columbia Police Department stated that the intruder forcefully entered the rental house where Federico was staying, stole her credit cards, and fatally shot her.
Federico, a student at South Piedmont Community College, was known for her lively personality, strong work ethic, and love for Taylor Swift, as shared by her father, Stephen Federico. She was working two jobs and had plans to transfer to the College of Charleston to pursue her dream of becoming a teacher. Her father described her as a strong-willed individual who loved animals and had a unique ability to draw people in, especially those who needed uplifting.
The suspect, 30-year-old Alexander Dickey, is a repeat offender with 40 prior charges. He allegedly broke into the rental home, stole from the premises, and then opened fire with a stolen gun. Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook referred to Federico as a “true victim,” as she was asleep at the time of the attack.
Following the incident, Dickey reportedly used Federico’s credit cards for a shopping spree. He was apprehended shortly after being spotted emerging from a wooded area, stealing a car, and driving to a residence in Gaston.
Stephen Federico shared his last text exchange with his daughter, a tradition of sending a goodnight message expressing his love. He is still waiting for a response to his last message. Logan’s final text was to her boss at a Charlotte bar, Jeff Reed, who had helped her start her career as a bartender. Reed shared that one of the last things she said to him was “I love you.”
In honor of Logan, Reed’s bar is naming a cocktail “The Queen,” which was her favorite nickname for her managers. Proceeds from the drink will be donated to her family. Logan is survived by her father, mother, and brother.
Stephen Federico delivered a powerful message to his daughter’s alleged killer during a press conference. He said, “The message I wanted to send to Dickey, who took my daughter’s life — this is from her: ‘You can’t kill my spirit. You might be able to kill my body … but you cannot kill my love that my family and friends shared with me.’”
Dickey is facing multiple charges, including murder, burglary, weapons possession, and credit card theft. He has previous convictions for robbery, grand larceny, and resisting arrest. He is scheduled to appear at the Columbia Municipal Court on Tuesday.