Sheriff: Investigators Won't Rush To Judgment In Young Homicide

Wake County's sheriff said Tuesday that investigators would not rush to judgment in the case of a slain Wake County woman.

"Our concern is making sure we get the facts and get them right," said Sheriff Donnie Harrison. "We want to solve this case for us and for the family, and we want to make sure everything is done right. We don't want to try it in the media."

Investigators have said very little about the death of Michelle Young, 29, who was found face-down in her bedroom on Nov. 3 with her 2-year-old daughter, Cassidy, by her side. The daughter was not harmed, authorities said.

A preliminary autopsy report shows Young died from blunt-force trauma. She was also about four months pregnant with her second child at the time.

Authorities have said they do not believe Young's slaying is a random act, but they have not said whether they have suspects in the case.

Young had company at her home up until about 10:30 p.m. the night before her death, investigators said. Her husband, Jason Young, was out of town on business and was staying with his parents in Brevard, N.C., when he found out about his wife's death.

Several people, including Jason Young, have submitted fingerprint evidence as part of the investigation, but authorities have declined to comment on how many people or who they were.

A spokeswoman for the Wake County Sheriff's Office said last week that Young had not been named a suspect. Following his wife's funeral, he reportedly left the area with his daughter.

Cordoned off by yellow police tape, the house at 5108 Birchleaf Drive remains an active crime scene more than a week after Young's death. Investigators could be seen at the house on Monday collecting evidence.

Wake County Assistant District Attorney Becky Holt, who is assigned to the case, was also there Monday, which is rare when a crime scene is still active.