Chapel Hill, N.C. – On Friday, North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation Special Agent in Charge Justin Heinrich wrapped up a day of testimony in the ongoing murder case of Faith Hedgepeth, a former UNC student whose death in 2015 remains unsolved.

Key testimony points

Heinrich, who has worked on the case since 2013, explained that his involvement began around the one‑year anniversary of Hedgepeth’s death. He described multiple interviews with Hedgepeth’s roommate, Karena Rosario, noting that her statements remained “remarkably consistent” with earlier video evidence.

“She’s always made herself available,” Heinrich said, adding that Rosario has not changed her phone number in 14 years and continued to cooperate even after leaving the state.

Investigative focus and DNA evidence

The agent emphasized that investigators first examined people closest to Hedgepeth before expanding the suspect pool. A critical advantage, he said, was the presence of strong DNA evidence at the crime scene, allowing detectives to rely on scientific data rather than solely on witness testimony.

He noted that the positioning of Hedgepeth’s body and inconsistencies between the roommate’s last sighting and the actual discovery indicated a violent assault that included sexual violence.

New leads and suspect identification

According to Heinrich, the investigation identified Miguel Salguero‑Olivares, born in 1993 in Guatemala and residing in Chapel Hill since 2010, as a person of interest in 2021. Salguero‑Olivares’ name had not appeared in earlier investigative spreadsheets that listed roughly 1,700 individuals.

Heinrich detailed Salguero‑Olivares’ residence at the King’s Arms apartments, located a few miles south of Hedgepeth’s apartment in the Hawthorne at the View. He also referenced a map shown by prosecutors that placed Salguero‑Olivares’ 2012 employment at an Outback Steakhouse on Mt. Moriah Road, directly across from Hedgepeth’s job at Red Robin on New Hope Commons Boulevard.

Phone records and ongoing efforts

The agent testified about phone‑record analysis, tower dumps near local venues such as The Thrill and the Hawthorne, and the challenges of pinpointing a suspect despite extensive data. He indicated that further testimony is scheduled for Monday as the court continues to examine the evidence.

Heinrich’s testimony underscores the continued dedication of the SBI and local law‑enforcement partners to bring closure to Hedgepeth’s family and the Chapel Hill community.

Original reporting: WRAL Raleigh — read the source article.