The Brief Miguel Salguero Olivares was convicted of killing UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth in 2012. Prosecutors said DNA, fingerprints and a palm print linked Salguero Olivares to the crime scene. Salguero Olivares was sentenced to life in prison without parole, plus 45 to 65 years for other charges.



A man accused of killing University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth 14 years ago was convicted Friday of first-degree murder, rape, sexual offense and burglary.

Miguel Salguero Olivares, 33, was arrested in 2021 after a DNA sample collected during a drunken-driving stop allegedly matched evidence from the crime scene. Prosecutors said his DNA, fingerprints and palm print were found on or near evidence connected to Hedgepeth's death.

The backstory:

Hedgepeth, 19, was beaten to death in her off-campus apartment in September 2012. Prosecutors said Salguero Olivares' DNA was found in Hedgepeth's body, on a note written on a fast-food bag and on a blood-covered rum bottle identified as the weapon.

What they're saying:

 We know who did it. The forensic evidence is screaming his name,  prosecutor Angela Garcia-Lamarca said during closing arguments.

The other side:

Defense attorneys argued investigators had  tunnel vision  and falsely accused Salguero Olivares. They questioned the handling of the crime scene and the reliability of some DNA evidence.

 No matter what kind of mistakes were made or things that were missed, it doesn't erase the palm print; it doesn't somehow lift the DNA out of Faith,  special prosecutor Lisa Coltrane said.

Dig deeper:

Jurors deliberated for six hours over two days before reaching a verdict. Salguero Olivares was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder, plus 45 to 65 years for the other charges.

Hedgepeth's parents told the judge they forgave their daughter's killer.

 It was just three weeks after her death. It didn't matter who done it, I knew that I had to forgive, and I do forgive, but my heart aches for his family,  Connie Hedgepeth said.

 Today it got very real,  Roland He
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