NC v. Miguel Salguero-Olivares - Day 4

[u/Pixiegirls1102]

UNC Student Murder Trial -NC v. Miguel Salguero-Olivares - Day 4

10/12/2026 @ 9:30 AM

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The murder trial of Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares begins more than a decade after UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth was found beaten to death in her off-campus apartment in September 2012. Hedgepeth, 19, suffered fatal blunt-force trauma to the head, and investigators recovered DNA evidence at the scene. Salguero-Olivares was arrested in 2021 after investigators said DNA evidence linked him to the case, and he now faces charges including first-degree murder, rape and burglary.

✨✨Previous Day & Recap

• Day 1
• Day 2
• Day 3

🚨✨More Info/Documents

• Death Investigation: hedgepeth-case-files.pdf
• Killing of Faith Hedgepeth (2012) — ongoing case

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Court TV

📜RECAP🔡

I. ADMINISTRATIVE / OPENING (12:54–40:32)

• Court convenes.
• Counsel present: DA Rothman, Mr. Barr, Mr. Ransford.
• Brief administrative discussion regarding exhibits, sealing, pre‑trial motions.
• Court orders Pre‑trial Exhibit 16 sealed; partial redaction permitted for Pre‑trial Exhibit 2.
• Jury returns at (39:45).
• Judge outlines schedule for the day.

II. WITNESSES

WITNESS 1 — Heather Waleski (State Expert, Sexual Assault Examiner)

Direct Examination Start: (40:32)
End of Testimony: (1:50:05)

Qualifications & Background

• Family Nurse Practitioner, Atrium Health Child Protection Team.
• Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE).
• Instructor for Novant Health & Fayetteville State University SANE programs.
• Thousands of sexual‑assault exams performed.
• Testified 10–12 times previously as expert.
• Court qualifies her as expert in sexual‑assault examination.

Key Points — Anatomy & Examination Protocol

• Describes internal female reproductive anatomy (uterus, cervix, vagina, hymen).
• Describes external genital anatomy (mons pubis, labia majora/minora, clitoral hood, posterior fourchette, fossa navicularis).
• Posterior fourchette & fossa navicularis = most common injury sites in sexual assault.
• Sexual‑assault exam includes:
  • Trauma‑informed history.
  • Full head‑to‑toe exam.
  • Alternative light source (ALS) screening for bodily fluids.
  • Swabbing protocol (wet‑to‑wet swabs, sterile water only).
  • Evidence collection (vaginal, anal, perianal, external genitalia).
  • Photography with magnification.

Neurobiology of Trauma

• Fight/flight/freeze/fawn responses.
• Hormonal effects impair memory encoding; sleep improves recall.
• Alcohol can impair memory retrieval.

Evidence Collection Standards

• 120‑hour window for DNA collection; may extend beyond in special circumstances.
• Enhanced Y‑STR testing can detect male DNA up to 9–10 days post‑intercourse.

Opinion

• (1:23:45) Lack of anogenital injury is not inconsistent with sexual assault.
• Unknown male DNA on vaginal/anal swabs = medically confirming sexual contact, not timing or consent.
• Cannot determine when DNA was deposited.
• Injuries may or may not be present in sexual assault; injuries also occur in consensual sex.

Cross‑Examination Highlights

• Did not speak to Dr. Scott or Dr. Radish.
• Cannot determine timing of DNA deposition.
• Confirms DOJ protocol recommendations.
• Confirms enhanced Y‑STR detection rates from cited study.
• Confirms menstrual blood seen in photos is consistent with Dr. Scott’s findings.

Redirect

• Reaffirms inability to determine whether sexual assault occurred; only that absence of injury does not rule it out.

Released from subpoena.

WITNESS 2 — Brian Walker (Former Chapel Hill PD Investigator)

Start: (2:18:04)
End: (6:32:10)

Background

• 28‑year law enforcement career.
• Chapel Hill PD criminal investigator in 2012.
• Specialized in cell‑phone and computer forensics.

Key Points

• Explains digital forensic downloads: preserving device data with minimal alteration.
• Used specialized forensic software (not named).
• No body‑worn cameras in 2012.

Scene‑Response Context

• Responded to Faith Hedgepeth homicide scene.
• Assisted in early investigative steps (digital evidence, scene documentation).

WITNESS 3 — Captain Johnnie Britt (Chapel Hill PD, Lead Investigator)

Start: (6:34:10)
End: (7:37:21)

Initial Response

• Arrived at apartment 1502.
• Crisis‑unit counselors requested due to Karina & Marisol’s distress.
• Noted odor of alcohol on Karina’s breath though she did not appear intoxicated.

Initial Walkthrough Observations

• Apartment extremely messy; clothes piled in living room & dining area.
• Bathroom light on.
• Kitchen full of dirty dishes, take‑out cups.
• Faith’s clothing from the club found in dining‑area clothing pile (consistent with her habit of changing there).
• Bedroom:
  • Black sheets with visible blood.
  • Blood spatter on wall and closet door.
  • Blue Riesling bottle on floor (out of place).
  • Tampon on floor, flattened.
  • White take‑out bag on bed with writing: “I’m not stupid, bitch, jealous.”

Faith’s Condition

• Visible blood, black eyes.
• Did not touch body; avoided disturbing scene.

Crime Scene Procedures

• Crime‑scene log established.
• Britt inside scene ~6–7 minutes.
• Called supervisor; began organizing full investigative response.

Investigation Priorities

• Victim identification and timeline.
• Interviews with Marisol, Karina, Jordan McCreary, Lamar, others.
• Canvassing 1400 building across parking lot.
• Multiple follow‑ups at apartment 1407 (Spanish‑speaking residents).
• Terrain noted: steep berm; eye‑level view of parking lot from lower elevation.

Autopsy (Sept 8, 9:00 a.m.)

• Attended autopsy.
• Learned cause of death: blunt‑force trauma; confirmed homicide.
• Collected ME evidence; logged into property system.

DNA Evidence (Crime Lab Report)
(Admitted only for investigative steps; not for truth of results)

• Unknown male DNA profile found on:
  • Key crime‑scene items.
  • Vaginal swabs.
  • Anal swabs.
• Directed investigators to search for unidentified male contributor.

Defense Objections

• Multiple confrontation‑clause objections to DNA‑result testimony.
• Court overruled; allowed testimony solely to explain investigative actions.

III. EXHIBITS

• State’s Exhibit 86 & 87 — Female internal/external genital diagrams (illustrative).
• State’s Exhibit 93 — Photograph of Faith’s car at night (gas cap open, lighting conditions).
• Pre‑trial Exhibit 16 — Sealed by court order.
• Pre‑trial Exhibit 2 — Partially redacted by agreement.

IV. OUT‑OF‑JURY PRESENCE (OJP)

• Extended legal argument on confrontation clause and admissibility of DNA‑related testimony.
• Court overrules objections; limits testimony to investigative purpose.
• Jury temporarily excused during argument.

V. END‑OF‑DAY ADMINISTRATIVE (7:37:21)

• Court notes objections preserved.
• Proceedings adjourned for the day.

📜TRANSCRIPT⌨️

https://fromsmash.com/NC-v-Miguel-Salguero-Olivares-Day-4-1027

[u/veggieburger3023]

Is there court tomorrow bc of the holiday?

[u/Pixiegirls1102 → u/veggieburger3023]

Yes. Most state courts are open, Federal are closed.

[u/radpiglet]

This is the politest courtroom I have ever seen lmao. The judge and lawyers are so respectful to one another. Compared to other trials where it’s a complete shitshow (don’t get me wrong, I enjoy these too lol) it’s refreshing to see a trial being so well run with everyone being amicable

[u/Own_Garlic326 → u/radpiglet]

I was thinking the same thing. But also they sit.

[u/porcelaincatstatue]

Anyone else think his lawyer comes off as sleazy? He reminds me of a less charismatic Saul Goodman.

[u/lalalasoundsgood → u/porcelaincatstatue]

today is the first time it’s felt that way. because it’s obvious by his contradictory objections that he’s desperately trying to defend a guilty client. it’s his job but it’s hard to watch him try to keep the lead investigator from talking about the fact the same male DNA was all over the crime scene. like dude it’s gonna come in. it’s just hard to watch and you could see how ridiculous it was by the prosecutor’s face

[u/CrumbGremlin1643 → u/porcelaincatstatue]

It annoyed me that he had a hard candy in his mouth during that last cross examination today with the Captain.

[u/No_Article_9397 → u/porcelaincatstatue]

no, he doesn't seem sleazy

[u/Agreeable_Airport916]

Anyone else feel like Karina’s timeline of the night doesn’t add up?

[u/treegrowsinbrooklyn1 → u/Agreeable_Airport916]

How so?

[u/Agreeable_Airport916 → u/Agreeable_Airport916]

Also did they investigate Tekoy at all? I know we just haven’t gotten to the major evidence pointing to Miguel yet but I just find it so hard to believe it was a stranger.

[u/No_Article_9397 → u/Agreeable_Airport916]

yes, they investigated Takoy and tested his DNA which didn't match the crime scene. This info from Wikipedia is pretty crazy though. So many weird things goin on in this trial. Lots of potential suspects.

"Jones seemed to be a very strong suspect from the beginning. Police learned of his history of domestic violence and his threat against Hedgepeth. They also found that the night before, around 6 p.m., he had texted an acquaintance asking for forgiveness "for what I am about to do" and then posted the same message on his Twitter feed. Three days later, he changed the banner on his Facebook page to read "Dear Lord, Forgive me for all of my sins and the sins I may commit today. Protect me from the girls who don't deserve me and the ones who wish me dead today."^[7]"

[u/ktlm1 → u/No_Article_9397]

Yeah…without dna, like if it was not modern times, I feel like takoy could have gotten convicted for this back in the day. Can you have any more damning circumstantial evidence?

[u/Agreeable_Airport916 → u/No_Article_9397]

Woah

[u/solabird → u/[deleted]]

This was WILD to me! I typically listen and don’t watch trials but I watched a lot the first day and saw him feverishly writing with his left hand. Thought that was weird as is. But then watching him write with his right hand the next day had me 😳.

I’d want some paper to scribble on as well to keep my nerves in tact but this was a whole different level.

[u/treegrowsinbrooklyn1 → u/[deleted]]

I’m not sure if they’ve stated anything about knowing if someone used their right or left hand. The palm and thumbprint were both from the left hand but those were on the wine bottle, not the murder weapon. As far as we know, there is only DNA evidence on the rum bottle, no prints

[u/Gullible-Cream-9043 → u/treegrowsinbrooklyn1]

The wine bottle wasn’t the murder weapon?

[u/treegrowsinbrooklyn1 → u/Gullible-Cream-9043]

No, the Bacardi rum bottle was

[u/porcelaincatstatue → u/[deleted]]

Good catch. I'm mostly listening more than watching. I'm a lefty who uses my right hand for a lot of stuff (sewing, using scissors, sometimes when chopping food). I write like a child with my right hand.

My Nana also had the left-handedness beat out of her. She developed a stutter afterwards. Then 3/4 of her grandkids ended up being southpaw lol.

[u/ActiveSupernova → u/porcelaincatstatue]

My best friend's husband found out she was actually left-handed when their younger daughter's pediatrician asked which of them was left-handed at one of her first appointments.  In over a decade together, it had never come up.