News Releases

Montgomery County Police Officer Assists in North Carolina Homicide Investigation

For Immediate Release: Friday, September 17, 2021

Gaithersburg, MD – A nine-year murder investigation has been solved, thanks to committed detectives and science.

A 19-year-old student at the University of North Carolina was murdered in her off-campus apartment in Sept. of 2012. Detectives from the Chapel Hill Police Department continued to actively investigate the murder of Faith Hedgepeth, and nine years later, with the assistance of the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation (SBI) and a Montgomery County Police officer, have arrested a suspect.

The Chapel Hill Police Department, in coordination with the SBI, arrested Miguel Enrique Salguero-Olivares, 28, of Durham, N.C. on Thursday, Sept. 16 in connection with the murder of Hedgepeth.

Montgomery County Police Officer Steven Smugeresky helped with DNA research in the case.

“I am extremely proud of Officer Steven Smugersky’s dedication and commitment to assist the Chapel Hill police department in their homicide investigation,” said Montgomery County Police Chief Marcus Jones.

The Chapel Hill Police Department’s homicide investigation will remain an active and ongoing case until the Durham County District Attorney tries the case in court.

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Release ID: 21-347
Media Contact: Shiera D. Goff 
Categories: cold-case