NC NC - Faith Hedgepeth, 19, UNC student, Chapel Hill, 7 Sep 2012 #3

[louvillian08]

FWIW - my AI overview is slightly different:

"When a case is "removed from the homicide calendar" or "taken off calendar," it means that the specific scheduled hearing or trial date has been canceled and the case will not be heard at that time. It does not automatically mean the case is dismissed or that the defendant is free.

Reasons for Removal
Cases are removed from the calendar for various reasons, including:

• Need for More Time: One or both sides may require additional time to gather evidence, locate witnesses, or complete investigations/evaluations (e.g., DNA testing results).
• Negotiations/Plea Bargains: The parties may be close to a plea agreement or resolution outside of a trial and need time to finalize the details.
• Prosecutorial Discretion/Evidence Issues: The prosecutor may need time to address weak evidence, legal issues, or procedural errors, or may be waiting on new evidence or witness cooperation. In some cases, a prosecutor might place a case on an inactive or "dead docket" status, meaning it is inactive but can be recalled if circumstances change (e.g., new evidence emerges).
• Scheduling Conflicts: A judge or attorney may have a conflict, or a higher priority case might need the courtroom.
  Logistical Issues: This could include a key witness being unavailable, the defendant having medical issues, or an administrative oversight. "

Though I find it hard to imagine any of those (except the second bullet) would apply to a relatively high profile (at least in the state) murder case that took 4 years to even get a trial date.

 

[faithx]

New document today on the portal. Ending sentence:

"(The judge) hereby orders this case be removed from Durham's Homicide Status Calendar."

Anyone got a clue?

EDIT: The AI overview (so yes, take with a grain of salt) says:

"Having a case removed from this calendar typically means it is no longer pending a future administrative or trial setting and has reached some form of final disposition or a major procedural change."
and
"The case has reached a final resolution, such as a plea bargain, dismissal of charges, or completion of a trial leading to an acquittal or conviction and sentencing."

Again: WHAT?

I think the case has been removed from the homicide status calendar because a trial date has finally been scheduled.

This quote, from a January 2025 article, explains the process:

"During Thursday's hearing, Durham County District Attorney Satana Deberry asked to remove the case from homicide status, which essentially moves the case past the administration stage and into trial preparation."

UNC student Faith Hedgepeth murder case is one step closer to trial

The Faith Hedgepeth murder case is one step closer to trial.

www.wral.com

 

[CADwrest]

FWIW - my AI overview is slightly different:

"When a case is "removed from the homicide calendar" or "taken off calendar," it means that the specific scheduled hearing or trial date has been canceled and the case will not be heard at that time. It does not automatically mean the case is dismissed or that the defendant is free.

Reasons for Removal
Cases are removed from the calendar for various reasons, including:

• Need for More Time: One or both sides may require additional time to gather evidence, locate witnesses, or complete investigations/evaluations (e.g., DNA testing results).
• Negotiations/Plea Bargains: The parties may be close to a plea agreement or resolution outside of a trial and need time to finalize the details.
• Prosecutorial Discretion/Evidence Issues: The prosecutor may need time to address weak evidence, legal issues, or procedural errors, or may be waiting on new evidence or witness cooperation. In some cases, a prosecutor might place a case on an inactive or "dead docket" status, meaning it is inactive but can be recalled if circumstances change (e.g., new evidence emerges).
• Scheduling Conflicts: A judge or attorney may have a conflict, or a higher priority case might need the courtroom.
  Logistical Issues: This could include a key witness being unavailable, the defendant having medical issues, or an administrative oversight. "

Though I find it hard to imagine any of those (except the second bullet) would apply to a relatively high profile (at least in the state) murder case that took 4 years to even get a trial date.

I didn't quote the entire thing. Here's what the full overview said for me.

For comparison, my search was "what's it mean to have a case removed from homicide status calendar NC"

In North Carolina, the "homicide status calendar" is an administrative docket used to track the progress of murder cases and schedule future proceedings. Having a case removed from this calendar typically means it is no longer pending a future administrative or trial setting and has reached some form of final disposition or a major procedural change.
Potential reasons for a case to be removed from the homicide status calendar include:

• Case Disposition: The case has reached a final resolution, such as a plea bargain, dismissal of charges, or completion of a trial leading to an acquittal or conviction and sentencing.
• Case Transfer/Consolidation: The case may have been transferred to a different court, potentially federal court under specific circumstances, or consolidated with other charges.
• Continuance/Rescheduling: While most cases not reached at a given session are rescheduled, a case might be removed from a specific status calendar if a long continuance is granted to allow for complex matters to be addressed (e.g., completion of evaluations or reports), with the intent to place it on a later calendar.
  • Procedural Issues: The case may be removed due to a significant procedural issue, such as the defendant being declared incompetent to stand trial or being placed on "Voluntary Leave" (V/L) status if the defendant fails to appear (though V/L cases can be reinstated later).

 

[Webthrush]

Wow, I’m still not clear WHAT has been taken off the calendar!??? I don’t see the January 15 hearing listed anymore, so is that mainly what has changed OR has the actual trial date (as mentioned here about a week ago) of SEPT. 28, 2026, now, poof, gone into thin air??? (obviously if the trial date is abandoned I would take that to mean either a plea deal is in the works, OR and less likely, MESO is now pleading guilty without trial, OR charges are being dropped!). But since I barely understand lawyer-speak, interested to hear more from those who do!

 

[CADwrest]

OK, after doing more research, it looks like cases are removed from the "Homicide Status Calendar", which is essentially a calendar for the administrative hearings and status conferences, and placed on the "Trial Calendar" once the trial is scheduled. So I don't think anything dramatic has happened, it is just a procedural thing that isn't 100% clear to us outsiders.

I read too much into it based on the fact that the quote from Deberry, which seemed to imply it was imminent, was from January, and the order from the judge was issued a full week after the last administrative hearing on the 6th.

Case in point in why one shouldn't trust the AI overview, even when it sounds very persuasive...

 

[CADwrest]

A new document was added to the portal on November 25th. I've attached it.

To summarize: On August 6th, the defense asked to test a sample of a blood stain found on the bathroom door to see if the DNA of the person who left it could be determined. Apparently, CHPD has indicated they do not have a sample, despite reports seemingly saying one was taken. The judge is ordering CHPD and the State of NC to address that. CHPD has until December 6th to respond, and the State has until December 13th to either provide that response to MESO and his attorneys or explain why the information shouldn't be provided to them.

Either way, it looks like MESO's team isn't going to be getting any testing done on that blood stain.