News

Court Unseals Parts of Documents in Investigation of Killing of UNC Student Faith Hedgepeth

Wake County Superior Court Judge Howard Manning Jr. partially unsealed search warrants Wednesday related to the 2012 death of UNC-Chapel Hill student Faith Hedgepeth.

The News & Observer reports that the court allowed release of redacted versions of the search warrants, but kept an autopsy report and 911 calls sealed. 

SMVT partner Hugh Stevens represented the media coalition seeking release of the records. According to the article:

Hugh Stevens, attorney for The News & Observer and other media organizations challenging the seal, argued in March that it’s been over a year since Hedgepeth was killed and the public does not know anything about the case.

The state has not explained why withholding the information could compromise the case, Stevens argued. Making the information public could inspire someone to come forward with information that seemed unrelated before, he said.

Read the full article here.