Chapel Hill jurors pause murder trial to review DNA records

Jurors in the trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares paused deliberations on Thursday evening to review specific forensic records. The panel asked for summaries of latent fingerprint and DNA reports admitted during the proceedings. They were sent home shortly after 5 p.m. and are scheduled to return Friday morning. No verdict was reached during the first day of deliberations.

Irving Joyner, a law professor at North Carolina Central University, stated that the request indicates the jury is focusing on the DNA evidence. He noted that the panel went directly to the core of the state's case. Joyner emphasized that DNA is the only evidence the prosecution presented against Olivares.

Prosecutors argued that forensic evidence strongly links Olivares to the 2012 death of Faith Hedgepeth, a UNC-Chapel Hill sophomore. The state alleged that Olivares broke into Hedgepeth's apartment, sexually assaulted her, and beat her to death. Closing arguments concluded on Thursday afternoon before deliberations began.

Defense attorney Jason Murphy offered a different interpretation of the evidence. He argued that Olivares and Hedgepeth may have engaged in consensual sex. Murphy pointed out that male DNA can persist in a female body for several days. He also urged jurors to consider whether investigators focused too narrowly on Olivares and missed other leads.

Joyner predicted that the jury will continue to examine the DNA evidence closely. He stated that if the DNA evidence is undermined, the entire prosecution is weakened. The professor described the jurors' task as complex, requiring them to follow judicial instructions carefully. He expected the panel to avoid rushing toward a decision.

During closing arguments, prosecutors introduced a new theory of motive for the first time. They claimed Olivares became embarrassed after Hedgepeth rejected his advances outside her apartment. The state said she had just returned from a night out with her roommate. Joyner questioned why this motive was not presented earlier in the trial. He noted that no witnesses testified to this theory during the evidence phase.

The professor assessed the presentation styles of both sides. He observed that the defense maintained a calm demeanor while attacking the certainty of the evidence. In contrast, the prosecution conveyed the emotional weight of the case. Joyner noted that the jury includes nine women, which may have resonated with the two women on the prosecution team. He stated that deliberations could extend beyond Friday as the twelve jurors work through the evidence.