“I have been following this not just as a sexual assault survivor, fellow North Carolinian, a mother, but because I have personal connections with other members of the Hedgepeth family. Like alot of families they have close knit bonds but also share a love for their cultural heritage, community, and faith. We have known some of them for almost twenty years. I remain close, not as close as in years past but we remain friends and if someone needed something they would always be there to help.” – Amy “A DNA profile was generated from semen collected in a sexual assault kit, and investigators believe the DNA belongs to the killer, Chapel Hill Police Chief Chris Blue said Thursday.“Investigators have excellent evidence in this case, and we are making a public appeal for any information that will help us tie that evidence to Faith’s killer,” Blue said. “This is not a cold case. It has been and remains an active investigation.” Read more here: http://www.newsobserver.com/news/local/crime/article10051073.html#storylink=cpy





CHAPEL HILL (WTVD) –Chapel Hill police say they have received hundreds of tips after granting ABC’s 20/20 exclusive and unprecedented access into their investigation of murdered University of North Carolina sophomore Faith Hedgepeth. Investigators are now following up on the potential new leads that continue to pour in from across the country. Hedgepeth was found brutally murdered inside her Chapel Hill apartment four years ago.

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Included in a report that aired Friday night, is a never-before-seen composite of what the killer may look like based on DNA evidence found at the crime scene. Using genetic code from the DNA, a software company in Reston, VA was able to predict the eye color, hair color, skin color, freckling, face morphology, and ancestry of the alleged killer.

Police have said 19-year-old Hedgepeth was found bloodied and beaten in her Chapel Hill bedroom the morning of Sept. 7, 2012, after a night out at a bar with her roommate Karena Rosario.

A sexual assault kit was collected which showed the presence of male semen.

Investigators have said that DNA belongs to Hedgepeth’s killer, but after collecting and comparing hundreds of samples from persons of interest, none have been a match.

There’s a $40,000 reward still available for information in the case. If you have any information, please call Crimestoppers at (919) 942-7515.

Sept. 7, 2012: 12 a.m.

Hedgepeth and Rosario left the library around 11:30 p.m. and returned to their apartment around 12 a.m., police said.

Their apartment complex, at the time named Hawthorne at the View, is at the end of a road. The two women shared the second-floor apartment.

The complex is surrounded by trees and has only one way in and out.

Sept. 7, 2012: 12:30 a.m.At the apartment for less than 30 minutes, Hedgepeth and Rosario locked the door behind them and left for a night of dancing around 12:30 a.m., police said. Police said around 12:40 a.m., the two entered Thrill nightclub, which was a popular nightclub for undergraduate students. Those younger than 21 years old were allowed into the club. Sept. 7, 2012: 2:06 a.m.Video captured Rosario leaving Thrill followed by Hedgepeth at 2:06 a.m. “[Rosario] did indicate that she wasn’t feeling well when she left the club,” said Lehew. Sept. 7, 2012: 3 a.m.

By 3 a.m., the women were back at their apartment, police said.

A neighbor, who was up late watching TV said she heard a trio of noises coming from the apartment above hers.

“The police asked me, ‘What did they sound like?’ And I said, ‘Thumps.’ I said, ‘They sounded like it could have been a heavy book bag being dropped. It could have been an end table being turned over,’” the neighbor, who is named Joy, told “20/20.”

Joy’s apartment is below the one shared by Hedgepeth and Rosario.

Around this time, records show that someone accessed Hedgepeth’s Facebook page.

Sept. 7, 2012: 3:40 a.m.

Police said at 3:40 a.m., Hedgepeth sent a text to Brandon Edwards.

Police say Rosario’s phone records shows she was calling Edwards around the same time. When there was no response, Rosario then reached out to UNC soccer player Jordan McCrary.

“I would say he was — somebody that she had a relationship with,” said Lehew.

Sept. 7, 2012: 4:25 a.m.

At 4:25 a.m., police say Rosario left the apartment, got into McCrary’s car and headed to his apartment. The front door was left unlocked, police said.

“At that time, when she left the apartment, she knew Faith to be in bed in the bedroom,” Lehew said.

Sept. 7, 2012: 11 a.m.

Later that morning, Rosario needed a ride home. She couldn’t reach Hedgepeth so she called their friend Marisol Rangel to pick her up.

Around 11 a.m., Rangel said they climbed the stairs and entered the apartment. She said they called out Hedgepeth’s name but got no response. They then went to the bedroom where they found her body, Rangel recalled.

“So Faith was found deceased, partially nude … There was a lot of blood in the bedroom, and she had suffered what appeared to be severe head trauma,” Lt. Lehew said. “Faith was wrapped, partially, in a comforter that had been located on the bed. There was some blood splatter throughout the bedroom as well as where the pillow might be.

Rosario called 911. Police say Hedgepeth was bludgeoned to death by an empty bottle of rum that was found in the apartment. They believe it was more likely than not that she was raped.

A DNA profile was generated from semen collected at the scene, and investigators believe that DNA belongs to Hedgepeth’s killer.





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SOURCES

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/09/09/three-years-later-still-no-answers-murdered-native-students-family-161666