Jury convicts man in 2012 Chapel Hill student murder

A Durham jury returned guilty verdicts on Friday against Miguel Salguero Olivares, resolving the 2012 killing of University of North Carolina student Faith Hedgepeth. The case had remained unsolved for more than a decade. Olivares was convicted of first-degree murder, rape, sexual offense, and burglary.

Investigators from the State Bureau of Investigation described a long and complex effort to solve the crime. The agency reported that the case took nine years and nine days to close. More than 25 special agents worked alongside the Chapel Hill Police Department during the investigation. Teams followed thousands of leads and conducted hundreds of interviews. They also collected and tested more than 400 DNA samples to build the case.

Judge Keith Gregory invited the Hedgepeth family to address the court after the verdict. Connie Hedgepeth, Faith's mother, said she felt peace after waiting more than 14 years for an answer. She stated, "I'm just glad that we have the closure we need. I have peace and I forgave." She expressed sorrow for the defendant's family as well, describing the crime as a senseless and cruel act. She thanked the Durham County District Attorney's Office, the Chapel Hill Police Department, the State Bureau of Investigation, and the jurors for their work.

Judge Gregory spoke to the family as a fellow parent, noting that his own son is one year younger than Faith was. He said, "We're not supposed to watch our children leave this earth before we do." Alexis Evans, Faith's niece, told the court that the loss is felt in every event and place the family visits. Schylar Steverson, another relative, recalled being a high school junior when Faith died. She said the verdict allowed her to take back power she had lost to fear and anxiety over the years.

Roland Hedgepeth, Faith's father, spoke to the convicted man directly. He said Olivares had no right to take his daughter's life. He explained that his faith requires him to forgive and that he would pray for Olivares to repent. He remembered that Faith never judged him and always loved him unconditionally.

State Bureau of Investigation Director Chip Hawley called the case a monumental event in the agency's history. He praised the hard work and determination of the personnel involved. The agency stated that it never treated the matter as a cold case because investigators continued to pursue active leads. 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 reporters.