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Former Cheerleading Coach Remembers Slain Mother's 'Light'

There are still more questions than answers in the homicide of a pregnant Wake County mother. But the one thing no one is questioning is what a bright light Michelle Young was to everyone who knew her.

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Michelle Young
There are still more questions than answers in the homicide of a pregnant Wake County mother. But the one thing no one is questioning is what a bright light Michelle Young was to everyone who knew her.

Almost two weeks after the slaying of Young, 29, in her Wake County home, many people are just realizing she was formerly Michelle Fisher -- a popular cheerleader at North Carolina State University. Former Wolfpack cheerleading coach Cathy Buckey didn't recognize her when the story broke, but soon realized Young was one of her star cheerleaders 10 years ago.

"Her smile would light up a room," Buckey said. "Not only just her smile, but her eyes would twinkle and her face would light up."

But Buckey also remembers Young as a friend.

"(She was) just a really fun, nice, gregarious girl. Everybody loved her and she was everybody's friend," Buckey said.

Buckey said she is hopeful that investigators will find the person responsible for taking Young's life.

"To have her 2-year-old daughter there (when Young died) -- that's heinous, that's awful. So yes, I want them to find somebody," Buckey said.

Michelle Young's husband, Jason, told investigators he was out of town on business when his wife was killed. Under a court order, he gave them his fingerprints, but hasn't been interviewed. Investigators have said they have no suspects.

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