Unsolved true crime podcast bringing attention to cases that need it.

Researched, written and hosted by crime analyst Leah Owens. Co-hosted by Scott Owens.

SOLVED HOMICIDE: FAITH HEDGEPETH

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UPDATE: Faith’s case has been solved. Miguel Salguero-Olivares has been charged with her murder.

ORIGINAL TEXT: When a college junior and aspiring pediatrician is beaten to death in her own bed, the bright future of a beloved young woman and active member of the Haliwa-Saponi tribal community is instantly destroyed. A bitter note, a fight captured on voicemail during an accidental pocket-dial and past police reports of violence weave a story of jealousy, cruelty and lingering mystery in this episode of Last Seen Alive.

Faith Hedgepeth, 19, was murdered on September 7th, 2012. Her case remains unsolved. Image source: family photo.
Faith Hedgepeth, an aspiring pediatrician, smiles in an undated holiday photo. Image source: family photo.
This note, found on Faith’s bed along with her body, is considered to be of significant evidentiary value by investigators. Image source: police photo.
A young Faith Hedgepeth (right) participates in her first pow wow. Faith was an active member of the Haliwa Saponi tribal community throughout her life. Image source: family photo.
This status–posted on the day of Faith’s murder by a man who blamed her for the end of his relationship with her friend, Karena, has drawn considerable attention from investigators and the public alike. The poster–Eriq Jones–had allegedly made threats to kill Faith just prior to her death.
This DNA snapshot poster, produced by Parabon Nanolabs, depicts the genetic profile the lab developed from DNA left at the scene of Faith’s murder.

Sources used to research this episode:

Three Years Later: Still No Answers for Murdered Native Student’s Family (Indian Country Today)

Murdered UNC Student’s Final Moments: What Police Say Happened to Faith Hedgepeth (ABC News)

On The Last Night of Her Life, an Uncertain Timeline for Faith Danielle Hedgepeth (The Daily Tarheel)

Losing Faith: the Hedgepeth Murder Mystery at UNC (True Crime Daily)

A Local Company is Helping Catch Cold Case Criminals from Coast to Coast. Here’s Where it’s Gone to Work. (Washington Business Journal)

Voicemail Found Left by UNC Student’s Phone on Night of Her Murder: Part 4

Voicemail Audio Recording Analysis (Crime Watch Daily / Arlo West)

Eriq Takoy Jones: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know (Heavy.com)

Discovery of DNA Prompts Profile of UNC Student’s Killer (WRAL News)

Faith Hedgepeth Homicide Unsealed Police Narratives and Search Warrants 

Did you know? Native American women are murdered at a rate of up to 10 times the national average (source).

You can do something to help change this statistic.

Make a donation to the Indian Law Resource Center’s Safe Women project in honor of Faith.

Direct your donation to the Safe Women Project and name Faith Hedgepath as your honoree.

This case has been solved.

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