In the heart of America, two young women with bright futures were brutally taken from their families in separate, horrific crimes. Logan Federico, 22, and Iryna Zarutska, 23, were living their dreams—Logan aspiring to teach and Iryna seeking safety after fleeing war-torn Ukraine. Their lives were cut short by career criminals, Alexander Dickey and Decarlos Brown Jr., whose lengthy rap sheets and violent histories raise haunting questions about a justice system that allowed them to roam free. Now, a grieving father, Stephen Federico, is fighting tirelessly for justice, demanding accountability and the death penalty for his daughter’s killer. This is a story of loss, outrage, and a desperate plea for change. 💔

A Weekend of Celebration Turned Deadly 🎓

Logan Federico, a vibrant 22-year-old with a love for Taylor Swift and a dream of shaping young minds as a teacher, traveled to the University of South Carolina in May 2025 to visit her boyfriend. It was supposed to be a joyful weekend, filled with graduation festivities and promise. Instead, it became a nightmare that would shatter her family forever. 😞

On the early morning of May 3, Logan was asleep in a fraternity house bedroom, nestled beside her boyfriend. Unbeknownst to her, Alexander Dickey, a 30-year-old repeat offender with a staggering 39 arrests—25 of them felonies—crept into the room. Dickey, who had been sentenced in eight cases for crimes including robbery, drug possession, and larceny, was no stranger to law enforcement. In 2023, he received a five-year sentence for burglary but was released early, with his probation set to end in June 2025.

Prosecutors allege that Dickey, armed with a stolen 12-gauge shotgun, startled Logan awake. Her scream pierced the quiet, but no one came to her aid. In a chilling act of violence, Dickey allegedly forced her to her knees, naked and begging for help, before shooting her in the chest. He fled the scene in a stolen vehicle, leaving Logan’s lifeless body behind. The brutality of the crime sent shockwaves through the community, and her father, Stephen Federico, was left grappling with unimaginable grief. 😱

Dickey now faces a slew of charges, including murder, two counts of first-degree burglary, two counts of possession of a weapon during a violent crime, possession of a firearm by a prohibited person, grand larceny, grand larceny of a motor vehicle, and three counts of financial transaction card theft. He is being held without bail at the Lexington County Detention Center, awaiting trial. Yet, the question lingers: how was a man with such a prolific criminal history free to commit such a heinous act? 🤔

A Refugee’s Search for Safety Ends in Tragedy 🚆

Just four months later, on August 22, 2025, another young woman’s life was stolen in an equally brutal manner. Iryna Zarutska, a 23-year-old Ukrainian refugee who had fled her war-torn homeland in search of safety, was riding the Charlotte light rail after a shift at a local pizzeria. As she texted her boyfriend, unaware of the danger lurking nearby, Decarlos Brown Jr., a 34-year-old with a history of violence and severe mental health issues, approached her from behind.

In a sudden, unprovoked attack, Brown lunged at Iryna, stabbing her repeatedly in the neck. The horrific scene was captured on video, shocking the nation and leaving viewers horrified at the senseless violence. Passengers on the train sat frozen, some failing to intervene as Iryna collapsed, her dreams of becoming a veterinary assistant extinguished in an instant. 😢

Like Dickey, Brown had a long history of arrests and violent behavior. His attack on Iryna was not an isolated incident but part of a pattern that raises serious questions about why he was not behind bars. The U.S. Department of Justice has since charged Brown with a federal crime—committing an act causing death on a mass transportation system—opening the door for the Trump administration to pursue the death penalty, a move President Trump publicly supported after the tragedy. ⚖️

A Father’s Anguish and Fight for Justice 🗣️

Stephen Federico, Logan’s father, is a man consumed by grief and driven by a mission to seek justice for his daughter. A hardworking father who clocks 60 hours a week to support his family, he describes his fight for accountability as a “second full-time job.” In an emotional interview with the Daily Mail, Federico broke down in tears, his voice trembling as he spoke of his daughter’s preventable death. “Before Iryna… there was Logan Federico, and nobody cares,” he said. “Her murder was preventable.” 😭

Federico’s pain is compounded by the systemic failures that allowed Alexander Dickey to walk free. Despite Dickey’s extensive criminal record, he was released early from a five-year sentence, and Federico alleges that between 2013 and 2015, Dickey’s fingerprints were never taken, potentially contributing to his release. Whether due to botched fingerprints, a glitch in the system, or the South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED) failing to process them, the result was the same: a dangerous criminal was back on the streets, free to kill. 😡

Federico is now working tirelessly to ensure Dickey faces the full weight of the law. He has hired Richard Harpootlian, a high-profile attorney known for defending Alex Murdaugh in a double murder trial, to represent his family. Federico is pushing for federal charges against Dickey, citing the Hobbs Act, a federal law that applies when stolen goods cross state lines. Dickey allegedly stole Logan’s credit cards and used them outside South Carolina, providing grounds for federal prosecution. Federico has been in direct contact with senior officials, including Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche and U.S. Attorney for the District of South Carolina Bryan Stirling, who he describes as “motivated and eager” to take on the case. 🏛️

Federico’s ultimate goal is to see Dickey face the death penalty, a punishment he believes is justified given the brutality of his daughter’s murder. “The crime that [Brown] committed on the train was rookie compared to what Alexander Dickey did,” Federico told the Daily Mail. “You won’t see much worse than Dickey.” His mission extends beyond his daughter’s case—he wants to expose the “systematic dysfunction” that allows serial criminals to evade justice, putting innocent lives at risk. 💪

A Broken System Under Scrutiny 🔍

The murders of Logan Federico and Iryna Zarutska have ignited public outrage over a justice system that seems to prioritize leniency for career criminals over the safety of the public. Both Dickey and Brown had extensive criminal records, yet they were free to commit heinous acts. Why were they not behind bars? Why were their prior offenses not enough to keep them off the streets? These questions haunt the families of the victims and have sparked a broader conversation about criminal justice reform. 😤

In Logan’s case, Federico points to a series of failures, from unprocessed fingerprints to early releases, that allowed Dickey to remain a free man. In Iryna’s case, Brown’s history of violence and mental health issues should have flagged him as a danger to society. Yet, both men slipped through the cracks, leaving a trail of devastation in their wake. The Daily Mail reached out to SLED and Solicitor Bryan Gipson of District 5, Richland County, for answers, but neither provided clarity on why these systemic failures occurred. 🤷‍♂️

Gipson, in particular, has faced criticism for his handling of violent criminals. Elected in 2018, he has been accused by some, including the National Police Association (NPA), of prioritizing the rights of offenders over public safety. The NPA, a nonprofit that advocates for law enforcement, has called out Gipson’s approach, though his office declined to comment on the pending cases. Federico, frustrated by what he sees as Gipson’s reluctance to pursue the death penalty, is bypassing local authorities and seeking federal intervention to ensure justice is served. 🕵️‍♂️

Dreams Stolen, Lives Shattered 🌟

Logan Federico and Iryna Zarutska were more than just victims—they were young women with dreams, passions, and futures full of promise. Logan, a Taylor Swift enthusiast, was on the cusp of graduating and embarking on a career in education. Her love for teaching was matched only by her zest for life, a quality that endeared her to everyone she met. Iryna, who had escaped the horrors of war in Ukraine, was building a new life in America, training to become a veterinary assistant and working at a local pizzeria to support herself. Both women were at the start of their journeys, their lives brimming with potential. 🌈

Their deaths were not only tragic but preventable, a fact that makes their loss even more unbearable for their families and communities. Logan was killed in a fraternity house, surrounded by people who failed to intervene as she screamed for help. Iryna was attacked in broad daylight on a crowded train, yet passengers remained passive as she bled out. The inaction of bystanders in both cases adds another layer of heartbreak, raising questions about society’s willingness to step up in the face of danger. 😔

A Father’s Plea and a Call to Action 🔔

Stephen Federico’s fight for justice is not just about his daughter—it’s about ensuring no other family has to endure the pain he’s living through. “I shouldn’t have to work this hard,” he said, his voice breaking. “I should be able to mourn my daughter. And, I haven’t yet.” His words are a gut-wrenching reminder of the toll that grief and injustice take on a family. 😢

Federico has a message for other parents: “Parents need to be horrified.” He spent years warning Logan and his son about the dangers of the world, urging them to “keep their heads on a swivel.” Logan, ever optimistic, would brush off his concerns, saying, “Dad, it’s not that bad.” But her death is a stark reminder of the evil that exists and the consequences of a system that fails to protect the innocent. 💔

As Federico continues his fight, he’s calling on President Trump, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi, and other officials to take action. He hopes that federal charges and the death penalty will send a message that violent criminals like Dickey and Brown cannot be allowed to prey on society. He’s also urging the public to demand accountability from elected officials and law enforcement, to ensure that tragedies like these are not repeated. 🗳️

A Nation Mourns and Demands Change 🇺🇸

The murders of Logan Federico and Iryna Zarutska have left an indelible mark on their communities and the nation as a whole. Their stories are a painful reminder of the fragility of life and the devastating consequences of systemic failures. As Stephen Federico fights for justice, he carries the weight of his daughter’s memory and the hope that her death will not be in vain. 🙏

These young women deserved better. They deserved to live, to chase their dreams, to make their mark on the world. Instead, they became victims of a broken system that allowed dangerous criminals to roam free. Their stories demand action—tougher laws, stricter enforcement, and a commitment to prioritizing public safety over leniency for repeat offenders. ⚖️

As the nation mourns Logan and Iryna, Stephen Federico’s plea echoes loud and clear: “I’m not just out for Logan. I am out for everyone.” His fight is a call to action for all of us—to demand justice, to protect the vulnerable, and to ensure that no more lives are senselessly lost. Let’s honor Logan and Iryna by standing up for change. 💪