Prosecutors rested their case Monday, Oct. 19, after nine days of testimony. In all, the state called 23 witnesses, including forensic experts from the North Carolina State Crime Lab, Hedgepeth's former roommate and SBI agents.
Jury has reached a verdict in the Faith Hedgepeth murder trial
BREAKING: Jury finds Miguel Salguero-Olivares guilty on all counts in Faith Hedgepeth murder trial
The jury has reached a verdict in the trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares, finding him guilty on all counts. Jurors convicted him of first-degree murder, first-degree burglary, first-degree rape and a first-degree sexual offense in the 2012 death of Faith Hedgepeth.
12:43 AM GMT
Faith Hedgepeth murder: Miguel Olivares guilty of first-degree murder, sentenced to life
The accused of killing a North Carolina college student 14 years ago was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole after he was convicted Friday of first-degree murder, rape and other charges after prosecutors told jurors that forensic evidence was "screaming his name."
Faith Hedgepeth was a 19-year-old sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill when she was beaten to death in her off-campus apartment in September 2012.
Miguel Salguero Olivares was arrested nine years later after being pulled over for driving while intoxicated and providing a DNA sample that prosecutors say matched evidence from the crime scene.
Oct 23, 2026, 10:24 PM GMT
Prosecutors, Faith Hedgepeth's family react after guilty verdict
The family of Faith Hedgepeth and prosecutors are speaking after a jury found Miguel Salguero-Olivares guilty of first-degree murder, first-degree rape, first-degree sexual offense and first-degree burglary in the 2012 killing of the UNC-Chapel Hill student.
Olivares is sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
Oct 23, 2026, 9:23 PM GMT
Miguel Olivares sentenced to life without parole for first-degree murder
Judge Keith Gregory sentences Miguel Salguero Olivares after he was found guilty on all four counts, including first-degree murder in the 2012 death of Faith Hedgepeth.
-- First-degree murder - Olivares sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole
Miguel Salguero Olivares on Friday, Oct.23, 2026, after the jury reads the verdict finding him guilty on four counts.
Oct 23, 2026, 8:40 PM GMT
Jury finds Miguel Olivares guilty of all 4 counts in the murder of Faith Hedgepeth
On Friday, just before 4:30 pm., the jury informed the court they had reached a verdict.
They found Miguel Salguero Olivares guilty on all four counts of:
Miguel Salguero Olivares on Friday, Oct.23, 2026, after the jury reads the verdict finding him guilty on four counts.
Guilty of first-degree murder
Guilty of first-degree rape
Guilty of first-degree burglary
Guilty of first-degree sexual offense
The state presented nine days of evidence and called 23 witnesses, including Hedgepeth's former roommate, other former friends, forensic experts, and SBI agents.
