Closing arguments open in trial over 2012 killing of UNC student
Closing arguments begin in the trial of a man charged in the 2012 killing of a UNC student.
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Faith Hedgepeth Murder Trial
Closing arguments began on October 22, 2026, in Durham, North Carolina, in the trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares, charged with first-degree murder, rape, and burglary in the 2012 killing of Faith Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sophomore. Hedgepeth was found dead in her off-campus apartment on September 7, 2012. Salguero Olivares was arrested in 2021 after a traffic stop; prosecutors say a DNA sample he provided matched crime-scene evidence. He has pleaded not guilty. Testimony began October 7, 2026, after eight days of jury selection. The defense rested without calling witnesses, and the defendant did not testify. Prosecutors cite DNA and forensic evidence, while the defense questions the reliability of some DNA evidence, witness testimony, and the handling of the crime scene.
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2026-10-23 to 2026-10-26 · UTC publication dates
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What happened
Defense rests without calling witnesses and defendant does not testify
The defense rested its case on Wednesday, October 21, 2026, without calling any witnesses. Miguel Salguero Olivares did not testify. Nearly two dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution, including the victim's roommate, friends, crime scene technicians, state and local law enforcement officers, and a DNA expert.
State forensic scientist testifies DNA evidence is 170 septillion times more likely from defendant and victim
Erin Ermish, a forensic scientist with the North Carolina state crime lab, testified that DNA swabbed from Faith Hedgepeth's body is 170 septillion times more likely to be a mixture of Hedgepeth's and Salguero Olivares' DNA than a mixture of Hedgepeth's and an unknown individual's DNA. She also testified that she could never say with 100% certainty that a DNA sample came from a particular person.
Salguero Olivares pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, rape and burglary charges
Miguel Salguero Olivares has pleaded not guilty to charges of first-degree murder, rape and first-degree burglary in connection with the death of Faith Hedgepeth. The date of the plea is not stated in the articles.
Prosecutors argue defendant committed burglary intending sexual assault and murder
In closing arguments, prosecutors argued that Miguel Salguero Olivares broke into an occupied apartment at night without the tenant's consent, intending to commit a sexual offense, rape and murder. They cited DNA evidence linking him to empty bottles inside the apartment and semen evidence recovered during the investigation.
Autopsy records skull fractures, facial and head cuts, and injuries to arms and legs
An autopsy of Faith Hedgepeth found extensive skull fractures and cuts to her face and head. She also had injuries to her arms and legs.
Closing arguments begin in trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares for 2012 killing of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth
Closing arguments began in the Durham, North Carolina trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares, who is charged with killing Faith Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sophomore, in September 2012. The trial is about 14 years after the killing.
Prosecutors allege defendant was a stranger who killed Hedgepeth in a fit of rage
Prosecutors allege that Miguel Salguero Olivares, now 33, was a stranger to Faith Hedgepeth and killed her in a fit of rage. They state that his DNA was found on a rum bottle identified as the weapon, on Hedgepeth's body, and on a note written on a fast-food bag found at the scene.
Faith Hedgepeth was found dead in her off-campus apartment on September 7, 2012
Faith Hedgepeth, a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was found dead in her off-campus apartment on September 7, 2012. Her roommate returned to the apartment hours after the two had returned home from a club around 2 a.m. that morning.
State forensic scientist testifies rum bottle DNA mixture is 48.6 tredecillion times more likely from defendant and victim
Erin Ermish testified that the DNA mixture from the top of the rum bottle is 48.6 tredecillion times more likely to come from Faith Hedgepeth and Miguel Salguero Olivares than from Hedgepeth and two unknown, unrelated individuals. The bottle was identified by investigators as the weapon used in the killing.
Miguel Salguero Olivares was arrested in 2021 after a traffic stop and a DNA sample
Miguel Salguero Olivares was arrested in 2021, nine years after the 2012 killing of Faith Hedgepeth, following a traffic stop for driving while intoxicated. A DNA sample he provided during the stop matched evidence from the crime scene, according to prosecutors.
Defense attorneys question witness account, crime scene processing, and reliability of DNA evidence
In cross-examination, defense attorneys questioned the account of the victim's roommate, Karena Rosario, the processing of the crime scene, and the reliability of some DNA evidence. They pointed out that police did not search some areas of the apartment and later lost some possible blood evidence.
Testimony begins in Salguero Olivares trial on October 7, 2026
Testimony began on October 7, 2026, following eight days of jury selection in the trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares in Durham, North Carolina.
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