Man found guilty in 2012 UNC student murder after long search

Miguel Salguero Olivares was found guilty on Friday of first-degree murder, rape, sexual offense, and burglary in the 2012 death of University of North Carolina student Faith Hedgepeth. A Durham jury returned the verdict after a case that remained unsolved for more than a decade.

Judge Keith Gregory addressed the family and the defendant in the courtroom immediately after the decision. He spoke to the Hedgepeth family as a parent, noting that his own son is one year younger than Faith. He stated that families are not meant to watch their children leave the earth before they do.

Faith's mother, Connie Hedgepeth, told the court she felt peace after waiting more than 14 years. She said the family had the closure they needed and that she forgave the convicted man. She described the crime as a senseless and cruel act and expressed sympathy for Salguero Olivares' family. She thanked the Durham County District Attorney's Office, the Chapel Hill Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the jurors.

Other family members described the impact of the loss. Faith's niece, Alexis Evans, said the family would not carry uncertainty into the holidays. Another relative, Schylar Steverson, recalled being a high school junior when Faith was killed at age 19. She said the verdict brought healing and that she took back her power that day. Faith's father, Roland Hedgepeth, remembered his daughter's unconditional love. He said his faith requires him to forgive and that he would pray for Salguero Olivares' repentance.

The State Bureau of Investigation detailed the scale of the investigation in a statement. The agency reported that the case took nine years and nine days to solve. More than 25 special agents worked with the Chapel Hill Police Department. Investigators followed thousands of leads, conducted hundreds of interviews, and tested more than 400 DNA samples.

The SBI said it never classified the case as a cold case because agents actively pursued leads throughout the investigation. SBI Director Chip Hawley praised the agencies for their hard work and dedication. He called the case a monumental event in the agency's history. The case is now used to train new agents at the SBI Academy.

A press conference was held at the Durham County Courthouse on Friday afternoon. Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry, members of the prosecution team, the Chapel Hill police chief, and the Hedgepeth family made statements to the media.