Crime · Chapel Hill, NC
Jury Deliberates in Faith Hedgepeth Murder Trial After Closing Arguments
On Thursday at the Durham County Courthouse, both the State of North Carolina and defense attorneys delivered closing arguments in the murder trial of Miguel Salguero-Olivares, accused in the September 2012 killing and rape of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth. The defense surprised prosecutors by presenting no evidence of its own, arguing instead that untested DNA locations and inconsistencies involving witness Karena Rosario created reasonable doubt. The state's closing emphasized DNA evidence found on and inside Hedgepeth's body, a Bacardi rum bottle, and other items at the Hawthorne at the View apartment complex where the crime occurred. Judge Keith Gregory instructed the jury on all charges—including first-degree murder, rape, sexual offense, and burglary—and sent them to deliberate; jurors returned home at 5 p.m. Thursday and were set to reconvene Friday at 9:30 a.m.