Jury Selection Drags in 2012 UNC Student Murder Trial

Jury selection is continuing in Durham, North Carolina, for the murder trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares. The case involves the 2012 death of 19-year-old Faith Hedgepeth, a University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill sophomore. She was discovered murdered in her apartment on September 7, 2012.

Authorities allege that Hedgepeth was killed with an empty rum bottle. Salguero-Olivares, who was 19 at the time of the murder, was arrested nine years later in 2021. As of Tuesday, the 12-member jury had been seated, along with one alternate juror. The process to select additional alternate jurors has been extended, with attorneys questioning potential candidates on their ability to remain impartial given the case's significant media attention over the years.

The judge made a lighthearted comment about the slow pace, suggesting they might try to fill other alternate seats first. However, filling the second alternate juror position remains a priority for the court to finalize the panel and commence opening statements.