Faith Hedgepeth was just 22 years old when her life was brutally cut short in Chapel Hill, North Carolina.

A proud member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe, Faith was a college student with dreams, close friendships, and a future full of possibilities. But after a night out with friends in September 2012, she was found murdered in her apartment, leaving investigators, her family, and the public searching for answers.

For nearly nine years, the case remained unsolved. A mysterious voicemail, conflicting timelines, public speculation, and countless theories kept Faith's name in the headlines. Yet behind the mystery was a grieving family determined to ensure their daughter would never be forgotten.

In this episode of Deadly Devotion, we explore Faith's life, the investigation that captivated the nation, the DNA breakthrough that finally led to an arrest, and the legacy her family built in her honor. We also discuss the broader issue of violence against Indigenous women and why so many families continue fighting for visibility, justice, and answers.

This episode contains discussions of violence, homicide, and sexual assault that may be disturbing to some listeners.

Resources:

National Indigenous Women's Resource Center
https://www.niwrc.org

National Domestic Violence Hotline
https://www.thehotline.org
Call or Text: 800-799-7233

StrongHearts Native Helpline
https://strongheartshelpline.org
Call or Text: 1-844-7NATIVE (762-8483)

Sources for this Episode:

• Justice for Faith Official Website — Faith’s family website dedicated to preserving her memory and sharing updates on the case.
• Killing of Faith Hedgepeth Overview — Timeline, investigation details, DNA evidence, arrest information, and court developments.
• ABC11 Coverage of the Arrest and Family Reactions — Interviews with family members, tribal leaders, scholarship recipients, and discussion of Faith's legacy.
• The Daily Tar Heel Coverage Archive — Local reporting and timeline coverage surrounding the case.
• 💙 Faith's Smile Memorial Scholarship
  Faith's Smile Scholarship Information
  Created in honor of Faith Danielle Hedgepeth, this scholarship supports Native American young women pursuing higher education.
• 💙 Justice for Faith
  Justice for Faith Memorial Website
  A website created by Faith's family to preserve her memory, share updates, and continue advocating for justice.

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