What motive did prosecutors suggest for the killing of Faith Hedgepeth?

In closing arguments, prosecutors suggested for the first time that Salguero Olivares may have been at a cookout at Hedgepeth's apartment complex that night and tried to flirt with her and her very drunk roommate, Karina Rosario. They proposed that Hedgepeth rejected or embarrassed him, which could explain the note on the takeout bag. Prosecutors admitted they could not prove it, and no witness placed him at the cookout.

• Prosecutors told jurors the forensic evidence showed who did it even if the motive stays unknown.
• On body camera, Salguero Olivares denied knowing Hedgepeth, and the defense said he simply did not remember her.

▸In their words

“It's not a leap to suggest that he came up to try to engage.” Prosecutor · at 8:25 — open in the transcript →

Source: our own transcription of the episode. The full conversation is on Dateline NBC (2026-10-29). Read the whole episode summary →

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