CHAPEL HILL, N.C. (WTVD) — More than a decade after the brutal killing of UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth, the case that has haunted her family, friends, and the Tar Heel community is finally moving toward trial. On Thursday morning, a judge in Orange County Superior Court officially set a trial date for September 28, 2026, for the man accused of murdering the 19-year-old in 2012.
Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares, now 34, faces multiple felony charges in connection with Hedgepeth’s death, including first-degree murder, first-degree rape, first-degree burglary, and first-degree sexual offense. Salguero-Olivares was arrested in September 2021, nearly nine years after Hedgepeth’s body was found in her off-campus apartment in Chapel Hill — a case that had gone cold despite years of investigation, public appeals, and nationwide attention.
The announcement of a trial date marks a significant milestone in a case that has long symbolized the painful intersection of grief and delayed justice. Hedgepeth’s family members, who have waited 13 long years for this moment, were not in court Thursday but were represented by their attorney, who said the family remains steadfast in their desire to see justice served.
Faith Hedgepeth, a vibrant and ambitious sophomore at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, was found dead on September 7, 2012, in the apartment she shared with a friend at the Hawthorne at the View complex. Her death was ruled a homicide, and investigators said evidence at the scene indicated she had been brutally beaten and sexually assaulted.
For years, the investigation yielded few answers despite extensive DNA testing, interviews, and the release of evidence — including a chilling 911 call and a note reportedly found near her body. The case became one of North Carolina’s most high-profile unsolved murders, drawing widespread media coverage and an outpouring of public support for the Hedgepeth family.
In 2021, a breakthrough came when DNA evidence linked Salguero-Olivares, a Chapel Hill resident originally from Guatemala, to the crime scene. According to authorities, a newly developed forensic genealogy database helped investigators identify him as a suspect. He was arrested and charged nearly nine years after the killing, bringing renewed hope to a family that had long been waiting for answers.
Since his arrest, Salguero-Olivares has remained in custody without bond. His defense team has filed multiple motions related to DNA testing, evidence admissibility, and procedural delays. Thursday’s hearing, held before Superior Court Judge Allen Baddour, established the official trial timeline after years of pretrial motions and discovery disputes.
Speaking outside the courtroom, District Attorney Jeff Nieman emphasized the importance of moving the case forward while maintaining fairness and thoroughness. “This has been a long and painful journey for the Hedgepeth family,” Nieman said. “We are committed to ensuring that justice is served, and that Faith’s memory is honored through the pursuit of truth.”
Friends and former classmates of Faith continue to keep her spirit alive through annual vigils, scholarships, and community service events. Hedgepeth, a proud member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, dreamed of becoming a pediatrician and was deeply involved in Native American advocacy and cultural education on campus. Those who knew her describe her as bright, compassionate, and determined — someone who inspired everyone she met.
“Faith was more than a victim — she was a friend, a sister, a daughter, and a leader,” said UNC alumna and friend Maria Tucker. “We’ve been waiting 13 years for this moment, and while nothing can bring her back, seeing progress gives us hope that her story will finally get the justice it deserves.”
Legal experts note that the case presents complex evidentiary challenges, given the age of the forensic material and the time elapsed since the original investigation. However, prosecutors remain confident in the strength of the DNA evidence and witness testimony gathered over the past decade.
The defense has indicated it will challenge the reliability of the DNA analysis and question the investigative methods used in linking Salguero-Olivares to the crime. The trial is expected to last several weeks and will likely draw significant local and national media attention.
For the Hedgepeth family, the long wait for justice continues — but now, with a date set, the end of a 13-year chapter of uncertainty is finally in sight.
In a statement released through their attorney, the family said:
“We have waited so many years for answers, and we are grateful that Faith’s case is finally moving forward. Our family continues to pray for strength and for the truth to come to light. Faith’s spirit continues to guide us every day.”
As the community prepares for what promises to be one of the most emotional trials in recent North Carolina history, many are taking time to remember Faith Hedgepeth not just for the tragic circumstances of her death, but for the light she brought into the world — a light her family vows will never be extinguished.
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