Hedgepeth Murder Convict Seeks New Trial

Miguel Salguero Olivares has asked a judge for a new trial, less than two weeks after a Durham County jury convicted him of first-degree murder, rape, sexual assault and burglary in the 2012 killing of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole. His defense argues prosecutors failed to disclose a crime-lab report clearing him of unrelated drug charges before the verdict, potentially affecting his decision not to testify. The motion also challenges testimony by an SBI agent about the crime scene, DNA evidence and the consistency of Hedgepeth’s roommate’s accounts; prosecutors’ statements about witnesses who could identify a man at a nearby cookout; and the exclusion of evidence that the defense says could have challenged the estimated time of death. The defense says these issues collectively deprived Olivares of a fair trial; the motion’s claims have not been resolved by the court.