By William D. Slicker
Recently, there have been several high profile cases involving people with long records of crimes and/or mental illness who had been released and then murdered someone.
In May, 2025, Logan Federico, a 22 year old woman was shot to death by Alexander Dickey during a home invasion.[1] Dickey had been arrested and released nearly 40 times, including burglary, theft, larceny, and weapons charges.[2]
In August, 2025, Iryna Zarutska, a 23 year old woman who fled war torn Ukraine was stabbed to death by Decarlos Brown, Jr. who said “I got that white girl.” as he fled.[3] Brown had a history of mental illness and had been arrested and released multiple times, including serving five years for armed robbery.[4] At the time of Zarutska’s murder, Brown was free on his own while awaiting a hearing on a misdemeanor charge.[5]
In February, 2026, 41 year old Stephanie Minter was stabbed to death by Abdul Jalloh. Jalloh had a criminal history of more than 30 arrests, including rape, malicious wounding, assault, larceny, and firing a weapon.[6]
In May, 2026, 23 year old Alyssa Paige was stabbed to death while walking on the Atlanta Beltline by Jahmere Brown.[7] Brown had just beat another woman with a rock before stabbing Paige. Brown had previously been arrested for various charges, including battery on another woman. He was sentenced to undergo a mental health evaluation, anger management classes, and serve 120 days in jail, but he was released after 60 days.[8]
In June, 2026, five people were stabbed by Hector Deleon at Penn Station, New York, City. Deleon, a homeless man, had a history of mental illness. In 2022, he had been arrested previously for aggravated assault and possession of a weapon for an unlawful purpose. He had been released on bail and put on two years’ probation. In May, 2026, he had been arrested for theft and possession of drug paraphernalia.[9]
In response to these high profile cases of murder committed by repeat criminals, U.S. Senator Tim Sheehy has introduced the Judicial Accountability of Irresponsible Leniency (JAIL) Act which would allow for the families of victims to sue judges and other governmental entities who release violent criminals without bail.[10] The bill has been endorsed by the National Police Association.[11] The bill has also been called unconstitutional political theater.[12] As of the writing of this article, S.B. 3239 is in the Judiciary committee.[13] Running throughout this string of murders is the history of mental illness of the perpetrators. Rather than blame the judges, it seems that our society must come up with a better system to handle those who have mental illness. See my prior article entitled The Cuckoo’s Nest, published in the Mar/Apr 2023 issue of the Paraclete.
[1] Kakunguli, Philip, “The Forgotten Blade: Iryna Zarutska’s Murder and the Hypocrisy of American Outrage.” Global Peace Warriors (Sept. 13, 2025) https://globalpeacewarriors.org/blog/the-forgotten-blade-iryna-zarutskas-murder-and-the-hypocrisy-of-american-outrage/
[2]Channel 27 News, How the System Failed: The Story of Logan Federico and a Career Criminal, Channel 27 News (Oct. 1, 2025) https://www.facebook.com/tysonmediaoutlet/photos/how-the-system-failed-the-story-of-logan-federico-and-a-career-criminal-who-slip/1407141861413522/?_rdr https://www.kbtx.com/2025/05/05/woman-shot-killed-suspected-home-invasion-while-visiting-friends-police-say/;
Powell, Akim, “Woman shot, killed in suspected home invasion while visiting friends” WHSV (May 5, 2025), https://www.whsv.com/2025/05/05/woman-shot-killed-suspected-home-invasion-while-visiting-friends-police-say/
[3] Wolfe, Elizabeth, et. al., “How the lives of a Ukrainian refugee and a Charlotte man with a criminal history converged in a fatal stabbing.” CNN National (Sept. 9, 2025) https://kesq.com/news/national-world/cnn-national/2025/09/09/how-the-lives-of-a-ukrainian-refugee-and-a-charlotte-man-with-a-criminal-history-converged-in-a-fatal-stabbing/
[4] Wolfe, supra.
[5] Wolfe, supra
[6] Daniel, Sam and Proctor, Aungelique, “Woman Killed in Atlanta Beltline stabbing identified”, Fox 5 Atlanta (May 15, 2026) https://www.fox5atlanta.com/news/woman-killed-atlanta-beltline-stabbing-identified
[7] Beimfohr, Chelsea and Alston, Jasmina, “Records show man fatally stabbing 23 year old Alyssa Paige On Atlanta Beltway had prior criminal history”, Atlanta News First, (May 15, 2026) https://www.atlantanewsfirst.com/2026/05/15/records-reveal-prior-arrests-atlanta-beltline-stabbing-suspect-similar-assault-this-year/
[8] Secretary Mullin, Illegal Alien with more than 30 prior arrests fatally stabs woman at Virginia bus stop, Homeland Security
[9] Eyewitness News, “Two victims speak out after stabbing spree in Penn Station in NYC.” Eye Witness News (June 9, 2026) https://abc7ny.com/post/5-injured-random-stabbing-attack-penn-station-suspect-custody/19256045/; Troutman, Matt, et. al,, “Penn Station slashing suspect was free despite eerily similar 2022 attack: records.” NY Post (June 8, 2026) https://nypost.com/2026/06/08/us-news/penn-station-slashing-suspect-was-free-despite-eerily-similar-2022-attack-records/
[10] Senator Sheehy, “Sheehy Introduces Bill to Hold Soft-on-Crime Judges Accountable,” U.S Senate Press Release (Nov. 20, 2025), https://www.sheehy.senate.gov/news/press-releases/sheehy-introduces-bill-to-hold-soft-on-crime-judges-accountable/
[11] “A legislative bill called Judicial Accountability for Irresponsible Leniency (JAIL) Act,” National Police Association (Dec. 12, 2025) https://nationalpolice.org/the-national-police-association-endorses-the-judicial-accountability-for-irresponsible-leniency-jail-act/
[12] James, Doug, “The JAIL Act: Political Theater disguised as public safety”, Daily Montanan (Feb. 21, 2026), https://dailymontanan.com/2026/02/21/the-jail-act-political-theater-disguised-as-public-safety/
[13] https://www.congress.gov/bill/119th-congress/senate-bill/3239
