Jurors see graphic photos of Faith Hedgepeth's body; hear from doctor who performed autopsy
DURHAM, N.C. -- The third day of witness testimony in the murder trial of Miguel Salguero Olivares brought detailed and graphic evidence from the crime scene where 19-year-old UNC Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth was found dead in September 2012.
Tamika Price, a forensic evidence technician with the Chapel Hill Police Department, returned to the witness stand Thursday. Jurors viewed photographs Price took at the crime scene on Sept. 7, 2012, as well as several pieces of physical evidence collected that day.
The physical evidence comes a day after a graphic video from the crime scene that was shown during Price's testimony on Thursday.
Before removing items from a gray storage bin in the courtroom, Price put on two pairs of gloves to preserve the integrity of the evidence.
WATCH: ABC News Crime Reporter of "20/20" discusses Hedgepeth case
The items shown to the jury included a Bacardi bottle, a Blue Riesling wine bottle, the blue and gray shorts Hedgepeth was wearing the night before her death, and a white bag recovered from the crime scene.
Jurors were also shown close-up photographs of Hedgepeth's body and the injuries she suffered.
As Price described what she observed during her examination of the scene, Olivares appeared upset.
"I observed she appears to have a black eye. Blood going here, down by chin area," Price testified. "When I put my hands on her head, I could feel where the side of her head was very soft. It was indented."
Hedgepeth's Autopsy
The testimony took a turn later in the day when Dr. Lauren Scott, associate chief medical examiner with the North Carolina Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, took the stand.
Scott performed Hedgepeth's autopsy on Sept. 8, 2012, one day after she was killed. She walked jurors through the condition of Hedgepeth's body and detailed the injuries documented during the examination.
Scott testified that Hedgepeth suffered multiple lacerations to her scalp, forehead and face, as well as bruising to her face and arm and abrasions to her knees.
"Multiple lacerations on scalp, forehead and face. Blunt force injuries made by an object that causes the skin surface to split open," Scott testified. "She had bruising on her face, back of arm and abrasions on knees. Internally, she had bleeding surrounding the brain and the brain itself."
Scott concluded that Hedgepeth died from blunt force trauma to the head.
Earlier in the day, defense attorneys continued questioning Price about evidence collection procedures at the crime scene. During cross-examination, the defense focused on a swab taken from a blood stain found on the apartment's bathroom doorframe.
Price testified she could not locate the swab in evidence storage and acknowledged she was newly hired and still in training at the time of the investigation.
Defense attorneys also asked about Hedgepeth's cellphone and whether it was tested for DNA.
"The cell phone was not tested by the FBI," Price testified. "Looking back now, 14 years later, of course, I could have documented more."
The testimony comes after defense attorneys argued during opening statements that evidence in the case had been mishandled.
Throughout the day, jurors appeared closely engaged with the testimony and evidence. At various points while viewing photographs and listening to descriptions of
Hedgepeth's injuries, some appeared concerned or disturbed.
The graphic testimony was also difficult for Hedgepeth's family to hear and see. Following court proceedings, Faith Hedgepeth's father, Roland Hedgepeth, said family members had previously viewed photographs from the crime scene during the years-long investigation.
However, he said it was especially difficult knowing the images were now being shown publicly in court and viewed by jurors, attorneys and others in attendance.
As court wrapped up for the day, several of Faith Hedgepeth's loved ones hugged one another inside the courtroom, underscoring the emotional toll of the testimony and graphic evidence presented throughout the proceedings.
Despite the emotional testimony, support for Hedgepeth's family remained visible inside the courtroom. Several community members attended Thursday's proceedings, including Dr. Brucie Ogletree Richardson, chief of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe.
The trial is scheduled to continue Monday with additional witness testimony.
