Vigil planned for slain UNC student

Police have not made an arrest or named any possible suspects in Hedgepeth’s apparent murder but say the public is not in any danger. Investigators said that her death was a homicide, but they did not elaborate on how she died and do not believe the crime was random.

On Saturday, Chapel Hill police reached out to the public to try to get more answers.

The Chapel Hill Police Department has set up a tip-line in hopes of getting more information from the community. Anyone with information is urged to call 919-614-6363 or Crime Stoppers at 942-7515. A cash reward of up to $2,000 is being offered for information that leads to arrest.

"We hope the people who have ever committed this crime are found and that there is some justice for faith," said Brandi Brooks a friend at the UNC American Indian Center. "To know someone had harmed her was in and of itself unspeakable."

Hedgepeth was active in Native American events and performed in a singing group and danced at Pow-Wows. She was a member of the Haliwa-Saponi Tribe and a steady volunteer at the UNC American Indian Center.

"Faith was very much involved in our tribal culture," said Rev. Ronald Richardson, chief of the Haliwa-Saponi. "This will reverberate throughout our community for weeks months and years. This will be difficult to overcome.”

Hedgepeth’s body was found by friends at her Hawthorne on the View apartment in Chapel Hill Friday morning.

"It is difficult for everyone," said Amy Locklear, UNC American Indian Center Director. "None of this makes sense, and as we continue to wait, it still doesn't make sense."