Hedgepeth Trial Defense Rests Without Calling Witnesses

Miguel Salguero-Olivares is on trial for the 2012 killing of UNC student Faith Hedgepeth, whose case remained unsolved until his 2021 arrest. Prosecutors rested after nine days and 23 witnesses, arguing that DNA evidence from the crime scene links him to the killing; investigators say genetic genealogy helped identify him through distant relatives. The judge denied the defense’s request to dismiss the charges, which include first-degree murder, rape, burglary and sexual offense. The defense then rested without calling witnesses, and Salguero-Olivares told the judge he would not testify. Closing arguments are set to precede jury deliberations.