Jurors See Graphic Evidence in Hedgepeth Murder Trial

Jurors in Miguel Salguero Olivares’s trial over the 2012 killing of UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth heard graphic testimony and viewed crime-scene video, photographs and physical evidence, including bottles and clothing recovered from her apartment. A forensic technician described blood-stained bedding and the injuries visible at the scene, while the medical examiner testified about multiple cuts, bruises and other injuries. Prosecutors say DNA recovered from a sexual-assault kit and items at the apartment helped investigators identify Olivares using genetic genealogy; he was arrested in 2021 and has pleaded not guilty to murder, rape and burglary. The defense has challenged the reliability of DNA evidence, citing mixed or incomplete profiles and concerns about contamination and untested evidence. If convicted of first-degree murder, Olivares faces life in prison without parole.