Woof357
New Member
- Joined
- Jul 20, 2017
- Messages
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- 8
As I continued reading about this tragedy from various sources, it became apparent to me that the Chapel Hill Police investigation was flawed from the very beginning. Reading through the 118 page document release still available via the web (https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/1283962/hedgepeth-case-files.pdf), the investigators lead a disorganized campaign searching for evidence. The first 18 pages are requests to seal documents, and after that a chronology of warrants and investigative text related to search of Facebook profiles, the apartment, automobiles and then DNA collection via bucal swabs.
Some notes on the available information;
1. Page 43 contains a warrant to search the automobile of FH dated 9/11/2012. Page 51 describes the collection of DNA samples from the drivers side backseat area.
This seems to suggest that this car sat in the parking lot for 4 days before investigators searched it for evidence. There is no notation on whether or not he car was locked, what items were found inside etc. The description of DNA swabs from the backseat area is the only record of DNA acquisition from the crime scene in the entire document. Also, no indication as to why the drivers side backseat area was of interest. In other witness descriptions the car was seen with its gas cap open during this time period. This in itself seems out of the ordinary.
2. Page 62 and 74 contains search warrants for FH and KR laptops dated 10/24/2012. Almost two months after the murder. This seems incongruent with the idea that Facebook profiles were target with warrants on 9/11/2012. Almost certainly information on at least one of the laptops was changed/altered during this time period.
3. Page 53 contains the warrant to search the apartment on 9/7/2012, with an inventory of seized material added on page 60. Apparently additional items were gathered on 9/10/2012. If DNA was gathered there is no description of this process, though almost certainly it was or had already taken place.
4. Pages 91-117 describe requests for DNA swabs and some officer testimony into cases were initially these request were refused. This took place from 12/3/2012 to around 6/4/2013.
Some particular flaw that could be pointed out are he dates for the evidence collection from the car and apartment. These would suggest that they were open to contamination during the intervening time periods. The lack of a description for the DNA collection process in the apartment is another glaring omission. This process would be completed by specialists and should be well documented.
One anonymous source who lived in the apartments stated "was at the crime scene the entire day of Sept. 7 and also said the woods werent searched. She also noticed that Faiths car remained in the parking lot with the gas tank open, not immediately searched or dusted for prints.The source noticed that officers didnt search other apartments or go door-to-door to question neighbors. Police also didnt bring police dogs to search the area".
https://synapse.atavist.com/sealings
The story in the above link also describe how vital time was lost when police returned to a lot near the Thrill nightclub to ask for video tapes, 19 months after the murder of FH.
On top of all this you have the apparent failure by the North Carolina State Medical Examiner to calculate an approximate time of death for KH. This is beyond puzzling. In a homicide investigation where there are no witnesses, the determination of time off death would be one of the initial, and primary variables used. What is the explanation for not performing this procedure in this case? The only official information available is from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation ( http://www.ncsbi.gov/Divisions/Legal/Unsolved-Crimes/Faith-Hedgepeth.aspx), on this page the time of death is listed as
"2:40 am - 11am" This of course, suggests many different scenarios than the ones resented by the various witnesses to the event.
Cold cases are particularly difficult for both police and the community. There is always the lingering anguish and fear of the unknown and lingering doubt. I was brought to this board because of a cold case from my own community that has never been solved, going on almost 40 years now. The brutal murder of a pretty, popular young student was a shock to the community and left deep scars on everyone. Even more tragic was the inability to find the killer and the apparent lack of police ability to follow up on leads and collect evidence. At a certain point you begin to wonder about it all and even the most bizarre scenarios eventually come to mind. Everyone becomes a suspect. And to make my point, this atmosphere creates deep suspicions of the police, their ability and their motives. And at a certain point in this case, you have to take a look, a critical look, at the investigation.
It is apparent that the outcome of the investigation into the death of FH is highly dependent on the DNA samples that were obtained. Based upon the description of the Chapel Hill police activities in collecting evidence, I would suggest that these samples have become compromised in some way. An outside, independent investigation should be performed to look at the data collection process, analysis procedures, and material inventory for this case. In addition, a review of the personnel involved, and any possible conflicts of interest should be conducted.
A final point in this post. The fact that there was no time of death calculation from the autopsy of FH should be considered professionally negligent. This is a real question that should be officially addressed by the medical examiner.
Some notes on the available information;
1. Page 43 contains a warrant to search the automobile of FH dated 9/11/2012. Page 51 describes the collection of DNA samples from the drivers side backseat area.
This seems to suggest that this car sat in the parking lot for 4 days before investigators searched it for evidence. There is no notation on whether or not he car was locked, what items were found inside etc. The description of DNA swabs from the backseat area is the only record of DNA acquisition from the crime scene in the entire document. Also, no indication as to why the drivers side backseat area was of interest. In other witness descriptions the car was seen with its gas cap open during this time period. This in itself seems out of the ordinary.
2. Page 62 and 74 contains search warrants for FH and KR laptops dated 10/24/2012. Almost two months after the murder. This seems incongruent with the idea that Facebook profiles were target with warrants on 9/11/2012. Almost certainly information on at least one of the laptops was changed/altered during this time period.
3. Page 53 contains the warrant to search the apartment on 9/7/2012, with an inventory of seized material added on page 60. Apparently additional items were gathered on 9/10/2012. If DNA was gathered there is no description of this process, though almost certainly it was or had already taken place.
4. Pages 91-117 describe requests for DNA swabs and some officer testimony into cases were initially these request were refused. This took place from 12/3/2012 to around 6/4/2013.
Some particular flaw that could be pointed out are he dates for the evidence collection from the car and apartment. These would suggest that they were open to contamination during the intervening time periods. The lack of a description for the DNA collection process in the apartment is another glaring omission. This process would be completed by specialists and should be well documented.
One anonymous source who lived in the apartments stated "was at the crime scene the entire day of Sept. 7 and also said the woods werent searched. She also noticed that Faiths car remained in the parking lot with the gas tank open, not immediately searched or dusted for prints.The source noticed that officers didnt search other apartments or go door-to-door to question neighbors. Police also didnt bring police dogs to search the area".
https://synapse.atavist.com/sealings
The story in the above link also describe how vital time was lost when police returned to a lot near the Thrill nightclub to ask for video tapes, 19 months after the murder of FH.
On top of all this you have the apparent failure by the North Carolina State Medical Examiner to calculate an approximate time of death for KH. This is beyond puzzling. In a homicide investigation where there are no witnesses, the determination of time off death would be one of the initial, and primary variables used. What is the explanation for not performing this procedure in this case? The only official information available is from the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation ( http://www.ncsbi.gov/Divisions/Legal/Unsolved-Crimes/Faith-Hedgepeth.aspx), on this page the time of death is listed as
"2:40 am - 11am" This of course, suggests many different scenarios than the ones resented by the various witnesses to the event.
Cold cases are particularly difficult for both police and the community. There is always the lingering anguish and fear of the unknown and lingering doubt. I was brought to this board because of a cold case from my own community that has never been solved, going on almost 40 years now. The brutal murder of a pretty, popular young student was a shock to the community and left deep scars on everyone. Even more tragic was the inability to find the killer and the apparent lack of police ability to follow up on leads and collect evidence. At a certain point you begin to wonder about it all and even the most bizarre scenarios eventually come to mind. Everyone becomes a suspect. And to make my point, this atmosphere creates deep suspicions of the police, their ability and their motives. And at a certain point in this case, you have to take a look, a critical look, at the investigation.
It is apparent that the outcome of the investigation into the death of FH is highly dependent on the DNA samples that were obtained. Based upon the description of the Chapel Hill police activities in collecting evidence, I would suggest that these samples have become compromised in some way. An outside, independent investigation should be performed to look at the data collection process, analysis procedures, and material inventory for this case. In addition, a review of the personnel involved, and any possible conflicts of interest should be conducted.
A final point in this post. The fact that there was no time of death calculation from the autopsy of FH should be considered professionally negligent. This is a real question that should be officially addressed by the medical examiner.