# Faith Hedgepeth trial jury deliberates > Jurors weigh DNA evidence as Miguel Olivares faces murder verdict after 14-year wait. - Title: Faith Hedgepeth trial jury deliberates · ABC7 Los Angeles - Summary: Jurors weigh DNA evidence as Miguel Olivares faces murder verdict after 14-year wait. Miguel Salguero Olivares awaits jury verdict in Faith Hedgepeth murder… - Keywords: faith hedgepeth, miguel salguero olivares, dna evidence, murder trial, jurors, closing arguments, crime scene, forensic evidence, first degree murder, first degree burglary, first degree forcible rape, first degree sexual offense - Source: ABC7 Los Angeles — https://abc7.com/post/faith-hedgepeth-murder-miguel-olivares-fate-is-now-hands-12-jurors-closing-arguments-wrap-jury-gets-instructiosn/19969258 - Published: 2026-10-22T23:46:00+00:00 - Read time: 1 min - Topics: faith hedgepeth, miguel salguero olivares, dna evidence, murder trial, jurors, closing arguments, crime scene, forensic evidence, first degree murder, first degree burglary, first degree forcible rape, first degree sexual offense ## Faith Hedgepeth murder trial begins Jurors started deliberating Thursday after closing arguments in Miguel Salguero Olivares' murder trial. ## 12 jurors weigh DNA evidence Prosecutors say Olivares left his DNA like confetti at crime scene on blue Riesling and Bacardi bottles. ## Olivares charged with four crimes Olivares faces first-degree murder, burglary, forcible rape and sexual offense charges. ## Prosecutors argue DNA evidence Prosecutors claim forensic evidence overwhelmingly points to Olivares as killer. ## Prosecutor Garcia-LaMarca's question Do you believe the forensic evidence? Prosecutors say one question decides guilt or acquittal. > There's really just one question that y'all need to answer, and that is, do you believe the forensic evidence in this case? ## Prosecutor Coltrain challenges relationship Coltrain says no evidence shows Hedgepeth and Olivares knew each other before death. > Faith didn't speak Spanish. We know he was taking English classes, which is real helpful when you need to write a note ## Coltrain on digital evidence Coltrain says no digital overlap between Hedgepeth and Olivares' social circles. > There is absolutely no digital overlap ## Coltrain on investigation errors Coltrain says mistakes don't erase DNA evidence despite investigation flaws. > No matter what kind of mistakes were made or things that were missed, it doesn't erase the palm print ## Prosecutors appeal to emotions Prosecutors say losing a child without answers is unbearable for families. > For parents to lose a child and not know what happened or who did it is unbearable ## Defense questions investigation Defense argues evidence was missed or mishandled during yearslong case. ## Defense challenges crime scene Defense questions crime scene reconstruction expert's credibility. > You had someone say they were a crime scene reconstruction expert ## Defense on DNA evidence Defense says male DNA can remain in women's bodies for days. > The turn of phrase we use to indicate when someone's guilty: blood on their hands ## Jury composition Jury has nine women and three men, including five Black women. ## Jury requests evidence Jurors asked to review latent fingerprint and DNA report summaries. ## Key takeaway Miguel Salguero Olivares awaits jury verdict in Faith Hedgepeth murder trial after prosecutors presented DNA evidence and defense questioned investigation.