Chapel Hill Jury Requests DNA Data

Jurors in the trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares requested specific forensic documents after their first day of deliberations concluded without a verdict.

The panel asked for summaries of the latent fingerprint and DNA reports admitted as evidence during the trial. The jury began deliberating on Thursday afternoon following closing arguments and was dismissed at 5 p.m. They are scheduled to return to the courtroom on Friday morning.

The case involves the 2012 death of Faith Hedgepeth, a second-year student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Prosecutors alleged that Olivares broke into Hedgepeth's apartment, sexually assaulted her, and beat her to death. The state argued that the forensic evidence strongly linked Olivares to the crime scene. During closing arguments, prosecutors introduced a new motive theory, claiming Olivares became embarrassed after Hedgepeth rejected his advances outside her residence. She had just returned from a night out with her roommate, according to the state's account.

Defense attorney Jason Murphy presented a different narrative. He argued that the sexual encounter may have been consensual and noted that male DNA can persist in a female body for several days. Murphy also suggested that investigators focused too narrowly on Olivares and missed other potential leads.

Irving Joyner, a professor at North Carolina Central University School of Law, said the jury's request for DNA summaries indicates the panel is focusing on the core evidence. He stated that the DNA is the only physical evidence the state possesses. "Without DNA, the state would have nothing. So, if that is undermined, the state's prosecution is undermined," Joyner said. He predicted the jurors would move slowly through the complex evidence. He also questioned why the prosecution raised the motive theory only during closing arguments, noting that no witnesses had testified to that specific claim.

Joyner observed that the defense maintained a calmer tone while the prosecution emphasized the emotional weight of the case. He noted that the presence of two female prosecutors and nine female jurors might create a connection for the state. Because twelve jurors must reach a unanimous agreement, Joyner said the process could extend beyond Friday. "I think they will take their time," he said.