Murder Trial Progresses in 2012 Case Involving UNC-Chapel Hill Student
In a case that has spanned over a decade, the murder trial for the tragic death of Faith Hedgepeth, a UNC-Chapel Hill student, is gaining momentum. The 19-year-old, who hailed from Hollister, N.C. and was part of the Haliwa-Saponi tribal community, was discovered deceased in her apartment near the university in 2012.
Despite the initial lack of suspects and the sealing of case details under court orders, a significant development occurred in 2021. Authorities arrested a suspect after DNA from the crime scene matched with a sample from Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares, who was facing a DWI charge at the time.
Salguero-Olivares is now charged with first-degree murder, burglary, and rape in connection to Hedgepeth’s death. Recent hearings have focused on determining which pieces of evidence will be admissible during the trial. Salguero-Olivares has entered a plea of not guilty, with the trial set to commence on September 28.
