- Jury finds Miguel Salguero-Olivares guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, first-degree sexual offense, and first-degree burglary in the 2012 death of Faith Hedgepeth. The verdict was delivered on Friday in a Durham County courtroom, more than 14 years after Hedgepeth was found beaten to death in her off-campus apartment on Sept. 7, 2012.
- Salguero-Olivares was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder conviction, along with consecutive sentences for other counts. He received 64 to 89 months for burglary, and 240 to 348 months for both first-degree rape and first-degree sexual offense.
- Salguero-Olivares is appealing his convictions and sentences following the jury's verdict.
- Salguero-Olivares was arrested nine years after Hedgepeth's death following a DWI stop, where a DNA sample linked him to the crime.
- During the trial, prosecutors presented DNA and fingerprint evidence that they argued connected Salguero-Olivares to the crime scene, while the defense questioned the reliability of the investigation.
- Prosecutor Lisa Coltrain highlighted that Salguero-Olivares' DNA was found throughout Hedgepeth's apartment, suggesting he was a stranger who killed her in a fit of rage.
- Faith Hedgepeth was a 19-year-old junior at UNC-Chapel Hill, majoring in biology, and a member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribe.
- Friends discovered Hedgepeth dead in her apartment, where an autopsy revealed she suffered extensive skull fractures and cuts to her face and head.
A jury found Miguel Salguero-Olivares guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, and other charges related to the 2012 death of Faith Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old UNC-Chapel Hill student. The verdict, delivered on Friday, came after a lengthy trial that spanned 19 days, including jury selection.7
Salguero-Olivares was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder conviction, along with additional sentences for burglary and sexual offenses. The judge ordered these sentences to run consecutively, totaling a significant prison term.2
During the trial, prosecutors presented compelling DNA evidence linking Salguero-Olivares to the crime scene, with prosecutor Lisa Coltrain stating, “They still got the guy because he left his DNA like confetti all over that room.” The defense questioned the investigation's reliability but could not overcome the forensic evidence.5
Hedgepeth was found dead in her apartment on September 7, 2012, suffering extensive injuries. Her family expressed relief at the verdict, with her mother, Connie Hedgepeth, stating, “I am just glad we have the closure we need, we have peace.” The case, which took over 14 years to resolve, involved more than 25 SBI agents and over 400 DNA samples collected.
Salguero-Olivares is currently appealing his convictions and sentences, maintaining his innocence throughout the trial.
“Hedgepeth's mother Connie said, "I guess I have been really overwhelmed... glad we have the closure we need," after more than 14 years of waiting. The verdict ends a trial that featured DNA evidence described as "like confetti all over that room."”
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