Efforts Renewed to Find Michelle Young's Killer

RALEIGH, N.C. — Nearly a year after she was found beaten to death in the bedroom of her South Raleigh home, friends of Michelle Young are renewing their effort to keep the unsolved case alive and in the public eye.

A group that refers to itself as the "Magnet Militia" is distributing magnets reading "Justice for Michelle Young" in an effort to generate new leads in the investigation. One place the magnets are being handed out is the Enchanted Oaks subdivision where Young lived with her husband and daughter.

"I think it's good," Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison said. "I think it's something we need to keep reminding the public we're working on this case, and we're working on it every day."

Young's sister found the 29-year-old pregnant mother facedown in the bedroom at her home at 5108 Birchleaf Drive on Nov. 3, 2006. Young's 2-year-old daughter was next to her, unharmed, authorities said.

An autopsy revealed Young died of blunt-force trauma to the head after being hit at least 10 times. Several of her teeth were knocked out, her jaw was broken, and she had bruises on both hands. She had injuries to her neck that showed her killer also tried to strangle her.

The magnets, which come with instructions to post them on vehicles, are something many neighbors said they've put on their cars in an effort to show their hope that the person, or persons, responsible is brought to justice.

"It's a good idea," said Bob Hensley, an Enchanted Oaks resident for nearly two decades. "This was a nice woman who was ready to have another baby, and she was killed in a very unmerciful way – a very tragic way."

Wake County sheriff's investigators spent at least two weeks at Young's home collecting evidence and examining the crime scene, have conducted more than 100 interviews and have followed up on leads in at least three states.

Authorities don't think the crime was random, but they have not named any suspects.

Young was last seen alive at 10:30 p.m. the night before her death, when she had been entertaining friends at her home. Her husband, Jason Young, was out of town on business when his wife's body was found, authorities said.

In search warrants related to the case, he has appeared to be a focus of the investigation, but Wake County authorities have not named him as a suspect.

Shortly after his wife's slaying, Jason Young and his daughter reportedly moved to western North Carolina to be closer to his family. In July, the couple's home was put on the market.

Progress Energy, Young's employer, has also posted fliers advertising a $10,000 reward for information leading to a conviction in the case.

Anyone with information about the case should contact the Wake County Sheriff's Office at 919-856-6800.