Faith Hedgepeth Trial: Do They Have the Right Guy? Days 1 & 2 Recap | NC v. Salguero-Olivares

Fourteen years after UNC student Faith Hedgepeth was found beaten to death in her apartment, the man charged with her murder is finally on trial. The State says the DNA is "loud and clear." The defense says a "match" is "not even close to what it is." So do they have the right guy? Bob and Ali Motta break down the first two days of testimony in State of North Carolina v. Miguel Salguero-Olivares, with just facts and balls and strikes from the defense side of the courtroom. In this recap: • Opening statements: the State's stranger theory and the new claim that the defendant's relatives were holding a cookout at Faith's apartment complex that night • The defense response: no cell records and no witness placing him there, plus lost and untested evidence • Roommate Karena Rosario takes the stand for the first time, and the defense cross-examination • Jordan McCrary's testimony that he saw blood on Rosario's finger when he picked her up at 4:25 a.m. • The judge's ruling that the defense cannot argue a third party did it, and what the jury gets to hear anyway • The note left at the scene, the nine-year investigation, and how genetic genealogy and a traffic stop led to an arrest • The five questions this trial has to answer Miguel Salguero-Olivares has pleaded not guilty to first-degree murder, rape, sexual offense and burglary. He is presumed innocent. No one else has been charged in this case. Content warning: this episode discusses murder and sexual assault. Join the conversation in the comments: after two days of testimony, what is the biggest question you need answered? Subscribe and turn on notifications for daily trial coverage on Defense Diaries. #FaithHedgepeth #FaithHedgepethTrial #SalgueroOlivares #TrueCrime #DefenseDiaries #ColdCase #UNC #TrialRecap #JustFacts