Man convicted in 2012 UNC student murder files appeal in Durham case

Miguel Salguero Olivares, convicted last week of killing University of North Carolina student Faith Hedgepeth in 2012, has filed a notice of appeal, according to court documents reported by ABC11 WTVD and CBS17.

Olivares was sentenced to life in prison without parole after a Durham County jury found him guilty of first-degree murder, rape, sexual offense, and burglary. Prosecutors presented DNA evidence linking Olivares to the crime scene, which jurors said convinced them of his guilt.

The victim, Faith Hedgepeth, was a 19-year-old UNC sophomore who was beaten to death in her off-campus apartment. Olivares was arrested nine years later after a traffic stop where his DNA matched evidence from the crime scene.

During the trial, nearly two dozen witnesses testified for the prosecution, including crime scene technicians, law enforcement officers, a DNA expert, and friends of Hedgepeth. Olivares did not testify, and his defense rested without calling witnesses.

Following the conviction, officials including the Durham County District Attorney and the Chapel Hill police chief held a news conference at the Durham County Courthouse. The appeal filing was reported a week after the verdict.