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19-year-old University of North Carolina student Faith Hedgepeth was brutally murdered on the morning of Sept. 7, 2012, in an off-campus apt. To this day, despite LOTS of evidence and suspicions, the case remains unsolved. It is my hope that a collaborative Web effort ("hivemind") may accomplish what law enforcement has been unable to do in two long years… solve this vicious, senseless crime. In recent years Web collaboration of 100s, has been the tool allowing many decades-old problems in science to be solved in a matter of months; it can work for solving crimes as well. On behalf of Faith, her friends, and loved ones... let's DO IT!

Here are links to several of the podcasts/sites that have covered the case in recent years (and of course you can google for many more news reports) -- I would caution though that virtually all podcasts and extended treatments of this case (including this blog!) have some facts wrong, and are highly speculative:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np8a4FoGE20 [20/20 broadcast]


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yz8mBob9aPs ["Trace Evidence"]


https://truenoirstories.wordpress.com/2016/06/25/faith-hedgepeth/


http://twistedpodcast.libsyn.com/episode-50-the-murder-of-faith-hedgepeth


https://crimewatchdaily.com/2016/02/16/crime-watch-daily-investigates-the-murder-of-faith-hedgepeth/


https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/tv-shows/breaking-homicide/full-episodes/who-killed-faith (2018 episode)


ALSO, because of the heavy suspicion usually directed toward Karena Rosario, I'll leave a permanent link to this longish "Defense" of Karena that has been offered by a reader:

https://faithhedgepeth.blogspot.com/p/on-september-7-2012-faith-danielle.html


==> [Finally, I have moved the long introductory material to the bottom so newest posts will now appear closer to the top (but you can click as needed if you want to review, or read for the first time, the basics about this crime).]
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Monday, October 6, 2014

Autopsy?????


I'm a bit dumbfounded by the "autopsy report" for this case, which is much thinner/flimsier than I was expecting, especially for a homicide case. I've only seen 1-2 autopsy reports in my entire life (and those over 30 years ago in another state) so have little to compare to, but I was anticipating 2-3 pages of typewritten material, where instead there is barely half-a-page of what seems like hastily and incompletely-written hand-scrawled narrative, only a small amount even pertaining to the condition of, or injuries to, the victim. Striking too, that no approximate-time-of-death is included, which is pretty vital information (although law enforcement has consistently implied that it was earlier, rather than later, in the morning). Again, it just doesn't lend me a lot of confidence in the investigation of this case.

Moreover, a couple of key elements referenced in press reports (that I accepted) differ from what the autopsy actually says (and could change my prior speculative analysis). Various press reports have mentioned marks to Faith's face, arms, hands, legs, and also tissue (as well as blood) under her fingernails -- this is what I have based the belief in a major struggle on -- and a major struggle has been central to my conjectures in this case. Yet the autopsy mentions none of these injuries (nor sexual assault), making note only of the "massive head trauma" and "scalp lacerations" -- ????? -- how could injuries to the rest of her body simply be ignored? -- the mind reels a bit!… and I'll put more trust in the press reports (which may stem from direct police information) than in the details (or lack of details) of this autopsy page. The report goes so far as to state, "The apartment had lots of clutter scattered around, but no obvious signs of a struggle"[emphasis added] -- again, this is hard to take seriously (it would almost imply that either sex was consensual or major restraint was employed). But IF true (and there was little struggle, in the midst of a beating and sexual attack) than my previously-painted scenario might change considerably. For now, and assuming she wasn't quickly incapacitated early on, I presume there WAS a struggle.

[If you can't get it elsewhere, the autopsy report is available through the Medical Examiner office at 919-743-9012 (they email a copy).]

The slow drip-drip-drip (and inconsistencies) of facts/information released in this case make it hard to feel firm about any theories put forth... though I still feel that somewhere out there is a smoking gun, that can be found with enough eyes looking, in enough places.

ADDENDUM:  since writing the above over two years ago I have obtained a 'fuller' copy of the autopsy (I'm not even clear why there are different versions floating around or being given out?). What still surprises me is the lack of an estimated time-of-death given... pretty important information.
There is at least more detail given to Faith's various exact injuries; the major trauma to her head (including also a chipped tooth), as well as multiple contusions to her arms, hands, fingers, legs; all of which would seem to indicate a significant struggle. Even with the added details a lot of questions remain, and there is no update on hairs, fingernail scrapings, or other specimens taken for forensic study.
She is listed, by the way, as 5'6" tall, weighing 148 lbs., and had a small amount of alcohol (0.02%) in her system.


3 comments:

  1. For Christ's sake the audio expert that analyzed the voicemail recording of faith being murdered clearly identified the names Eric and Rosie spoken amongst the killers. Is it amateur hour at chapel hill police department or what? There's your smoking gun. Wake up and get some pros in there to replace Barney Fife!

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  2. I agree that Eric and her roommate are among the killers. I thought this immediately after watching the episode on YouTube. I'm disgusted that they have literally gotten away with murder and are free to live their lives as Faiths family suffer every day.

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  3. I am new to following this case, but it is obvious the note left next to the body using the word "jealous" indicates a female was involved. Men don't typically use those types of words. The severity of the beating knowing her height & weight indicates it was committed by a male. This was a tag team effort in my opinion.

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