Latest news with #ColumbiaPoliceDepartment
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Yahoo
Neighbors rally to support family of man killed in Columbia shooting
COLUMBIA, Tenn. (WKRN) — Columbia residents are still shocked following a double homicide in a typically quiet neighborhood. Shortly before 5 p.m. on Saturday, May 31, the Columbia Police Department said that officers responded to a shooting with multiple victims on Somerset Lane. Those victims were later identified as 46-year-old John Bidle and 51-year-old Stacie Wright. RELATED | 'A heartbeat of love': Community remembers woman killed in Columbia shooting The shooting was something that neighbors like Lee Hudson said they never expected to happen within the community. 'This is a one-off occurrence — and a freak occurrence — that we hope to never see happen again,' Hudson said. Court documents obtained by News 2 stated that Byron Childers was walking down the street with a rifle and shot Bidle multiple times; Columbia police said he was pronounced dead at the scene. The community, now missing two beloved members, have said they aim to be shoulders for Bidle's and Wright's loved ones. 'We are there for you,' Hudson said. PREVIOUS | Suspected gunman identified after 2 killed, 1 injured in Columbia neighborhood The Cremation Society of Tennessee is helping the Bidle family with arrangements. In an obituary posted to their website, Bidle was described 'as a generous neighbor and loyal friend' who centered his family and loved working on classic cars. Bidle's loved ones will come together at the UAW Local 1853 Hall at 125 Stephen P Yokich Parkway in Spring Hill. To donate to a GoFundMe to support the Bidle family, You can also send a card, follow this link to order a memorial tree or send flowers to the family. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Yahoo
How Did Freddie McKee Die? A Grieving Black Mom Investigates Two Conflicting Autopsies
Four years have passed since the sudden death of Freddie McKee. Since then, his mother has worked restlessly, conducting her own investigation to find out what happened after two conflicting toxicology reports contradict everything she knows about her son. As The Root previously reported, around 2:45 a.m. on July 8, 2020, a neighbor called authorities to report a shirtless man in her trash who said he was looking for his phone. Around 6 a.m, police received another call but from Freddie Gardner, McKee's father, reporting that his son was dead on his front porch. Now, Freddie's mother, Doressia McKee, is suing the Columbia Police Department for racial discrimination after she says they didn't fully investigate her son's manner of death. Instead, she says they wrote him off as just another statistic: a drug addict. Here's what we know. University of Missouri Medical Examiner Dr. Carl Stacy's handwritten autopsy notes cite several abrasions (a superficial rub or wearing off of the skin), contusions (ruptured bruises), and scars on Freddie's back and the back of his legs. McKee believes, based on the reports, that there was a struggle preceding her son's death and that McKee's body was moved or in motion before the police arrived. The Root reviewed both an EMS and police report that confirms his arm was raised off the ground when authorities arrived on the scene. A paramedic wrote they attempted to move the arm but confirmed Freddie's body was in rigor mortis. A July 26, 2020, toxicology report shows Freddie's blood tested positive for caffeine, olanzapine (used to treat psychotic disorders) and Celexa/Lexapro (used to treat depression). His mother tells The Root she received a call from Detective Steve Wilmoth in August 2020 claiming he was given the name of another drug found in her son's system and alleged Freddie, a business owner and Black history buff, died of an overdose. 'My son ain't never been no addict. Please, if I knew about any of that, I would be sitting at the rehabilitation [center] with my son making sure he would overcome whatever kind of issue,' Ms. McKee told The Root. Freddie's medical records show no evidence of drug abuse. McKee described Freddie as kind and non-confrontational. She admits he may have mixed with a bad crowd when he was younger, but did not fit the profile of what the cops were trying to push. She insisted Freddie did smoke marijuana, but 'never raised his voice, never cursed, never talked back — he's always been a good kid.' Per McKee, not only did Wilmoth not specify how he identified the cause of death prematurely, but a letter Dr. Stacy filed to a judge that August claimed the cause of death was still 'pending.' McKee said a second toxicology report was mysteriously issued despite never being contacted by the medical examiner about the retesting of her son's blood. The second 'corrected' report, obtained by The Root, detailed extensively the evidence of injury from the original autopsy. Dr. Stacy concluded Freddie's official cause of death was an 'accident caused by eutylone toxicity.' Another toxicology report, nearly identical to the first, included a new compound listed as a 'special request finding' which Freddie tested positive for: eutylone, a stimulant similar to Bath Salts. Who exactly requested the new test is unclear. She called out the police who deemed her 'a liar' who 'knew about my son's drug abuse.' She added: 'How do you come to a death scene and you know already, on that day, that my son is an addict? Where did you get that information from?' According to the report, Freddie tested positive for 5500 ng/ml of eutylone. However, his autopsy noted all of his internal organs were 'unremarkable' or absent of any damage. His heart, specifically, had no flaws. 'I didn't read anything about anything about his nose, like if he was snorting. They took his brain out and everything. So, for them to come back and for everything to be 'unremarkable' then how the hell are the police going to say that he had a history [of drug abuse]?' said McKee. The Root asked Boone/Callaway County Medical Examiner's Office death investigator Stacey Huck about an 'expanded panel' in cases like Freddie's. He revealed that the test may run if the first test includes an 'out of scope' finding. Expanded panels are where synthetic substances specifically are tested. When asked to detail the amount of eutylone found, Huck couldn't explain exactly what the results meant but said it implies a 'really high number.' Despite the scientific findings, McKee wasn't convinced and pushed to find her own answers. The Root reached out to an expert to review the two autopsies. They also compared the findings to a globally known police brutality case that brought forth the same concerns. What they had to say in Part 2 may surprise you... For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Sky News AU
12-05-2025
- Sky News AU
Swiftie college coed was executed as she slept by ‘career criminal' who broke in then went on shopping spree with her credit cards: cops
An aspiring teacher and devoted Swiftie was executed as she slept by a 'career criminal' who stole her credit cards and went on a shopping spree, cops said. And her heart-broken father says he's still waiting for her to reply to his last text message to her, 'goodnight, I love you.' College coed Logan Federico, 22, of Waxhaw, NC, was visiting friends in Columbia, SC on May 3 when a prowler broke into a rental house, swiped her credit cards, and gunned her down, the Columbia Police Department said in a press conference. A student at South Piedmont Community College, Logan worked two jobs and was planning to transfer to the College of Charleston to become a teacher, her father, Stephen Federico, told WIS News 10. She was known for her bubbly personality, work ethic, and obsession with Taylor Swift, Federico said. 'She was strong-willed from the start,' the heartbroken father said through tears. 'She loved animals, she was a people person, she drew people in. It was the right people, too, people who needed to be uplifted,' he said. Alexander Dickey, 30, a career criminal with 40 prior charges, allegedly broke into the rental home where Federico was staying with a stolen gun and opened fire after stealing from the house. 'She was asleep,' Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said, calling her a 'true victim.' Dickey went on a shopping spree the next day with Logan's credit cards, and was caught shortly after he was spotted emerging from the woods, stealing a car, and driving to a residence in Gaston, cops said. 'We texted the night she got there to make sure she was safe,' her dad recalled. 'Wednesday night, which became a tradition with all of us, I always sent a text that said 'goodnight, I love you, I'm going to bed,' and they [his family] always responded… I'm still waiting for hers,' he said. Logan's last text message was to her boss at a Charlotte bar, Jeff Reed, who helped kickstart her career as a bartender, Federico said. 'One of the last things she said to me was 'I love you,'' Reed told the outlet about her last shift. His bar is now naming a cocktail after her called 'The Queen,' as a tribute to Logan's favorite nickname for her managers. Proceeds from the drink will go to her family, Reed said. Logan is survived by her father, mother, and brother. Federico gave a defiant speech to his daughter's alleged killer during a press conference. '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 faces a slew of charges, including murder, burglary, weapons possession, and credit card theft. Cops say he had convictions for robbery, grand larceny, and resisting arrest. He is scheduled to appear at the Columbia Municipal Court on Tuesday. Originally published as Swiftie college coed was executed as she slept by 'career criminal' who broke in then went on shopping spree with her credit cards: cops
New York Post
11-05-2025
- New York Post
Swiftie college coed was executed as she slept by ‘career criminal' who broke in then went on shopping spree with her credit cards: cops
An aspiring teacher and devoted Swiftie was executed as she slept by a 'career criminal' who stole her credit cards and went on a shopping spree, cops said. And her heart-broken father says he's still waiting for her to reply to his last text message to her, 'goodnight, I love you.' College coed Logan Federico, 22, of Waxhaw, N.C., was visiting friends in Columbia, S.C. on May 3 when a prowler broke into a rental house, swiped her credit cards, and gunned her down, the Columbia Police Department said in a press conference. Advertisement 5 Logan Federico, 22, of Waxhaw, N.C., was sleeping when a 'career criminal' broke in and shot her to death, cops say. Facebook/Stephen Federico A student at South Piedmont Community College, Logan worked two jobs and was planning to transfer to the College of Charleston to become a teacher, her father, Stephen Federico, told WIS News 10 She was known for her bubbly personality, work ethic, and obsession with Taylor Swift, Federico said. Advertisement 'She was strong-willed from the start,' the heartbroken father said through tears. 'She loved animals, she was a people person, she drew people in. It was the right people, too, people who needed to be uplifted,' he said. 5 'She was strong-willed from the start,' Logan's heartbroken father Stephen Federico said through tears. WIS News 10 5 Logan worked two jobs while attending community college and had plans to transfer to the College of Charleston after visiting the city. Facebook/Stephen Federico Advertisement Alexander Dickey, 30, a career criminal with 40 prior charges, allegedly broke into the rental home where Federico was staying with a stolen gun and opened fire after stealing from the house. 'She was asleep,' Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook said, calling her a 'true victim.' 5 Alexander Dickey allegedly broke into the rental home and opened fire on Logan after stealing from the house. Lexington SC Detention Center Dickey went on a shopping spree the next day with Logan's credit cards, and was caught shortly after he was spotted emerging from the woods, stealing a car, and driving to a residence in Gaston, cops said. Advertisement 'We texted the night she got there to make sure she was safe,' her dad recalled. 'Wednesday night, which became a tradition with all of us, I always sent a text that said 'goodnight, I love you, I'm going to bed,' and they [his family] always responded… I'm still waiting for hers,' he said. Logan's last text message was to her boss at a Charlotte bar, Jeff Reed, who helped kickstart her career as a bartender, Federico said. 'One of the last things she said to me was 'I love you,'' Reed told the outlet about her last shift. His bar is now naming a cocktail after her called 'The Queen,' as a tribute to Logan's favorite nickname for her managers. Proceeds from the drink will go to her family, Reed said. Logan is survived by her father, mother, and brother. 5 Federico gave a defiant speech to his daughter's alleged killer during a press conference. Columbia Police Department, SC¿ Federico gave a defiant speech to his daughter's alleged killer during a press conference. Advertisement '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 faces a slew of charges, including murder, burglary, weapons possession, and credit card theft. Cops say he had convictions for robbery, grand larceny, and resisting arrest. He is scheduled to appear at the Columbia Municipal Court on Tuesday.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Yahoo
22-Year-Old Woman Shot Dead During Suspected Home Invasion as Her Father Breaks Down: 'That Day, I Could Not be Her Hero'
Logan Federico, 22, has died after being fatally shot in a suspected home invasion over the weekend, authorities stated The victim, of Waxhaw, N.C., had been visiting friends at a rented property in South Carolina at the time of the killing The Columbia Police Department has identified the suspected shooter as Alexander Dickey, 30 The father of a 22-year-old woman shot dead during a suspected home invasion in South Carolina over the weekend is paying tribute to his beloved daughter. Logan Federico, of Waxhaw, N.C., was discovered deceased on the morning of Saturday, May 3, after she was fatally shot in the chest while visiting friends at a rental home on Cypress Street. "While Logan was visiting friends in Columbia, her life was senselessly taken. Our deepest condolences go out to the Federico family and all who knew and loved her. No words can ease the pain of their loss, but we stand with them in support and sorrow," the Columbia Police Department (CPD) wrote in a Facebook post on Monday, May 5. Columbia Police Department Logan Federico's father Stephen Logan Federico's father Stephen The victim's manner of death has been ruled a homicide, the Richland County Coroner's Office said during a press conference. Police named the suspected shooter as Alexander Dickey, 30, in the conference, accusing him of committing multiple thefts and break-ins around the time of Federico's killing. Dickey allegedly entered a nearby house and stole several items, including a firearm and the keys to a vehicle, the CPD said during Monday's press conference. Lexington County Detention Center Alexander Dickey Alexander Dickey Police believe the suspect entered Federico's room before shooting her and fleeing the scene in a stolen vehicle. He's thought to have made purchases with stolen credit and debit cards across Lexington County, before his stolen vehicle broke down, police said. Officers worked hard to track Dickey down, despite the severe weather conditions, and he was eventually taken into custody after another property was set on fire. Police extracted the suspect through a window, authorities said. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Sign up for PEOPLE's free True Crime newsletter for breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases. Paying tribute to his beloved daughter at the press conference, Stephen Federico, told reporters, "I am Logan Haley Federico's father, better known as 'Dad,' or her hero. Unfortunately, that day, I could not be her hero." "My daughter, I cherished. She was a strong, fun-loving individual who did what she wanted to do and was spicy," he continued, adding that Federico was a huge Taylor Swift fan. "My daughter was working hard at school, working two jobs, to become a teacher. She loved and adored kids, children of all ages," he shared. Federico's father insisted, "The message I want 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,' " before breaking down in tears. Officials have issued warrants charging the suspect with murder, two counts of first-degree burglary, along with weapons possession and larceny charges, it was confirmed during the press conference. Online Lexington County Sheriff's Department inmate records stated Dickey was facing a burglary in the first degree charge and an arson in the second degree charge. He's been denied bond. The CPD didn't immediately respond after being contacted by PEOPLE for additional information. Read the original article on People
