By Jeanna Smialek jsmialek@newsobserver.com CHAPEL HILL Marcus Collins, Faith Hedgepeth’s academic coun- selor at UNC-Chapel Hill, on Satur- day thought about his last visit from the junior biology major who was found dead in her Chapel Hill apartment Friday. “As she got ready to leave my of- fice, she said, ‘I always feel so much better after I come to visit you,’ and I said, ‘No, I always feel so much better after you come to visit me,’ ” said Collins, assistant dean of student success and academic counsel- i n g at U NC - C H . “Her smile was in- fectious.” Friends found Hedgepeth in her Old Chapel Hill Road apartment about 11 a.m. Friday and called po- lice. Officers found her dead at the scene, although a cause of death has not been determined, accord- ing to Chapel Hill police. Investigators say they are inves- tigating it as a potential homicide. Police said they do not believe it was a random act. As they wait for answers, those who knew Hedgepeth expressed shock and consoled themselves with memories. They recounted a young woman from Warren Coun- ty who dreamed of one day becom- ing a doctor, and who served as a role model to many in her Haliwa- Saponi American Indian Tribe. Hedgepeth was an American In- dian Center volunteer, a member of education and outreach group Carolina Indian Circle and a per- former in a cappella group Un- heard Voices. She was a hard worker who held a part-time job at Red Robin in Dur- ham on top of her schoolwork, said Brandi Brooks, program coordina- tor at the American Indian Center, and she was dedicated to eventu- Friends mourn UNC student’s death Biology major found dead in apartment was an ‘infectious’ leader Hedgepeth SEE STUDENT, PAGE 2B Online Crime: Find more stories about crime and safety at nando.com/crime.
