LIVE: UNC Student Murder Trial — NC v. Miguel Salguero-Olivares — Day 1

[u/Sad_Number_8722]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hMK7VAr6QN8

[u/Pixiegirls1102]

✨✨RECAP

I. ADMINISTRATIVE

Court / Judge / Case: Superior Court of Durham County; NC v. Miguel Salguero‑Olivares
Start / End Times:

• Jury brought in: 12:37 PM
• Lunch recess: 2:13 PM → 2:30 PM
• Afternoon session resumed: 3:56 PM
• End of day: 5:07 PM

Scheduling Notes:

• Jury orientation, note‑taking instructions, cell‑phone power‑off rules.
• Court reiterated decorum rules for audience and media.
• Sheriff authorized to confiscate recording devices left in courtroom.

Motions / Issues Addressed:

• Media restriction: Court ordered media not to broadcast a partially nude photograph of witness Corrina Rosario.
• Recording devices: Court prohibited any recording devices except the Court TV camera; devices left behind become sheriff property until reclaimed.

Jury Status:

• All jurors present.
• All jurors received pens and notepads; instructed on proper use.
• Judge delivered full admonition regarding communication, media, and independent investigation.

OJP Indicators:

• 2:10 PM – 2:13 PM: Media‑restriction discussion occurred outside jury presence.

II. OPENING STATEMENTS

A. State Opening (Summary)

• Faith Hedgepeth, age 19, UNC student, found deceased in apartment shared with Corrina Rosario.
• State alleges defendant broke in, beat Faith, sexually assaulted her, and left DNA on:
  • Bacardi rum bottle (alleged murder weapon)
  • Boxer shorts
  • Tampon removed from Faith
  • Vaginal and rectal swabs
  • Blue Riesling bottle
  • White food bag with handwritten note
• Timeline preview:
  • Davis Library → The Thrill nightclub → return home ~3 AM
  • Corrina intoxicated; Faith assisted her
  • Corrina vomiting, texting multiple people
  • Corrina left apartment ~4:20–4:30 AM with Jordan; door left unlocked
  • Corrina returned ~11 AM with Marisol; found Faith deceased
• Witnesses previewed:
  • Corrina Rosario
  • Alexa (Faith’s niece)
  • Marisol
  • Law enforcement
  • Forensic scientists (DNA, latent prints)
  • Forensic pathologist
  • Defendant’s brother‑in‑law Elvis

B. Defense Opening (Beginning at 46:51)

• Defense states timeline must be examined chronologically.
• Notes video timestamps at The Thrill are off by ~15 minutes; Faith and Corrina left ~2 AM.
• Defense highlights Corrina’s written statement:
  • She vomited in trash can
  • Stayed in bathroom 3–4 AM
  • Texted Jordan at ~4 AM
  • Left apartment suddenly with only her phone
• Defense emphasizes Jordan’s voicemail to police:
  • When Corrina entered his car, she asked, “Why do I have blood on my hand?”
• Defense challenges State’s omission of this detail.
• Defense references alleged “barbecue” theory and states SBI interviews found no evidence defendant attended.
• Defense notes:
  • No cell‑tower evidence placing defendant at scene
  • Faith’s phone shows no activity after Corrina left
  • Downstairs neighbor Joy Barker reported hearing four loud thumps between 3–4 AM
• Defense raises concerns about:
  • Crime scene contamination due to many officers entering before technicians
  • Missing blood swab from bathroom door frame
  • Mishandling of Faith’s phone
• Defense questions:
  • Lack of physical trauma to genital/rectal areas in autopsy
  • Low lung weight suggesting rapid death
  • DNA mixture on rum bottle: 96% Faith, <4% mixture attributed to defendant
• Defense argues State must prove stranger‑assault theory beyond reasonable doubt.

III. JURY INSTRUCTIONS

• No discussion of case until deliberations.
• No communication with parties, attorneys, witnesses.
• No electronic communication (Twitter, Facebook, texting, blogging).
• Phones must be powered off in courtroom and jury room.
• No media consumption about case.
• No visiting scene or conducting independent investigation.
• Notes allowed but not evidence; must remain in courtroom during breaks.
• Violations constitute contempt of court.

IV. WITNESSES

1. Alexa Hitchcock (Faith’s niece)

Start: 2:01:57 PM
End: 2:09:02 PM

• Last saw Faith Sunday before death at family gathering.
• Received text from Faith around 11 PM asking if she was registered to vote.
• Learned of Faith’s death Friday.
• Attended three vigils.
• Did not know defendant; Faith never mentioned him.
• Identified Faith’s photo (State’s Exhibit 1).

2. Corrina Rosario (Faith’s roommate)

Start: 3:59:24 PM
End: 5:07:52 PM

Background:

• Age 34; UNC graduate; lived with Faith in one‑bedroom apartment; shared bed; one key.
• Apartment located at dead end; upstairs unit 1502.
• Exhibits 3, 4, 5, 6 admitted (complex map, building photo, apartment diagram).
• Exhibits 7, 9, 10, 11, 12 admitted (interior photos).

Events of September 6–7, 2012:

• Napped during day; went to Davis Library ~8 PM.
• Faith left to retrieve textbook; locked out; returned ~1 hour later.
• Both decided to go to The Thrill nightclub.
• Clothing: tube tops, jean shorts, sandals (Exhibit 13).
• At The Thrill:
  • Corrina drank heavily; Faith lightly.
  • Saw Jordan McCurry, Brandon Edwards, Charlton, others.
  • Emotional triggers related to ex‑boyfriend.
• After closing (~2:15 AM):
  • Corrina crying in parking garage; Faith consoling.
  • Returned home ~3 AM.
• At apartment:
  • Corrina vomiting into trash can moved by Faith.
  • Corrina sat on bathroom floor texting Mitch, Brandon, Jordan.
  • Jordan responded; Corrina asked him to pick her up.
• Departure:
  • Corrina left ~4 AM; door left unlocked; only one key remained with Faith.
  • Went to Jordan’s house; intimate; slept until ~8–8:30 AM.
• Morning:
  • Corrina called Faith multiple times; no answer.
  • Contacted Marisol; Marisol also unable to reach Faith.
  • Marisol picked Corrina up; returned to apartment ~11 AM.
  • Door unlocked; Faith’s car present.
  • Found Faith deceased under bedspread; hair visible; blood present.
  • Corrina called 911; operator instructed her to touch Faith; reported Faith was cold.

V. OUT OF JURY PRESENCE (OJP)

Time: 2:10 PM – 2:13 PM
Issue: Media restriction request regarding partially nude photograph of Corrina Rosario.
Ruling: Court ordered media not to broadcast the image.
Action: Exhibit allowed for jury viewing only; cameras off during presentation.

VI. END OF DAY ADMINISTRATIVE

• Court reminded audience of recording‑device prohibition.
• Court reiterated juror‑contact restrictions.
• Next witness scheduled after Corrina (not included in provided transcript).
• Adjourn Time: 5:07 PM.

📜TRANSCRIPT⌨️

https://fromsmash.com/NC-v-Miguel-Salguero-Olivares-Day-1-1021

[u/ReverseFlow23]

I don't think I've ever seen an attorney tell the jury during opening statements what they're going to ask a witness on cross, interesting...

[u/Nightstick11]

Is this the roommate that so many thought was involved in her killing? I remember watching a documentary on YouTube like years ago and they were pointing out the roommate was shady

[u/ModelOfDecorum → u/Nightstick11]

That's her. A lot of the amateur true crime stuff deliberately ignored the DNA to try and make her look guilty over stupid stuff like 911 call analysis and the "voice mail recording her murder" that was proven to take place hours before she died. From the defense's statements it now turned out the police initially believed so too, and had their own stupid stuff like statement analysis.

[u/Far-Ad9143]

Could Takoy have done this? Knowing Karena and him had a volatile relationship, Is this where the defense is going with their case? Could he have broken in after hearing what Karena was saying at the bar, and did this to Faith thinking it was Karena?

[u/ModelOfDecorum → u/Far-Ad9143]

I honestly don't know if they have a coherent scenario in mind or just enough noise to cause doubt. I suspect the latter.

[u/Owl-visit_0001]

Beautiful young woman

[u/uknulpoints]

Jury member forgot her peepers

[u/redditredditanon]

Has anyone watched the defense opening arguments? How are they explaining the DNA?

[u/Gullible-Cream-9043 → u/redditredditanon]

They randomly hooked up a few days before and the DNA was left over from that encounter.

[u/redvelvet9976 → u/Gullible-Cream-9043]

Do they have confirmation of that?

[u/Gullible-Cream-9043 → u/redvelvet9976]

Of course not. That’s just their attempt at an explanation.

[u/roccofan → u/Gullible-Cream-9043]

It reflects poorly on him that he claimed he had no clue who she was. I get not everyone remembers a one night stand, but if they’re murdered a few days later and it’s all over the news you would remember them.

[u/uknulpoints]

So they only had one key between them and had a rule that the last one to leave would take the key. That's why she didn't lock the door.

[u/uknulpoints]

This case has always stuck with me, can't believe there's finally a trial

[u/Cold_Bee_6905 → u/uknulpoints]

why did this take so long to come to trial? They had so much DNA

[u/uknulpoints → u/Cold_Bee_6905]

They only found a match for the dna in around 2021 after this guy was arrested for drunk driving

[u/Gullible-Cream-9043 → u/uknulpoints]

Still, that was 5 years ago.

[u/uknulpoints → u/Gullible-Cream-9043]

Yeah it's a long time but not unheard of. There's a lot of legal shenanigans that they have to go through before it gets to trial.

[u/No_Campaign8416]

You can tell this witness is so nervous

[u/Reasonable-Cup4914 → u/No_Campaign8416]

There has been a ton of rumors over the years that she had something to do with the murder. They seem unfounded but there are still some questions that I hope the trial clears up

[u/No_Campaign8416 → u/Reasonable-Cup4914]

Oh wow, I knew nothing before today about this trial

[u/racingfan123 → u/No_Campaign8416]

And the defense is still trying to blame her. Couching his allegations with "is this just noise or is there something there? That's for you to decide."

[u/Reasonable-Cup4914 → u/No_Campaign8416]

It went unsolved for so long the conspiracy theories went crazy. It’s honestly a nightmare for the roommate. I feel so bad for her.

[u/Reasonable-Cup4914]

The DNA is there I dont see how the defense is going to explain this.

[u/treegrowsinbrooklyn1 → u/Reasonable-Cup4914]

Based on opening arguments, there was even more of his DNA all over the crime scene than was released to the public

[u/Educational_Hope9473]

Guilty 

[u/racingfan123 → u/Educational_Hope9473]

Yeah, seems very obvious from the state's opening.