ABC News reports that Michelle Young’s family felt so strongly that Jason Young was her killer that they filed a wrongful death suit against him. Ultimately, a civil court ruled that Jason had killed Young. Despite this conclusion, Jason had yet to be charged with her murder. Soon after, in December 2009, Jason was arrested for first-degree murder, with investigators citing the evidence that was gathered for the wrongful death suit (via the Transylvania Times). According to another article from ABC News, authorities uncovered that Jason was having affairs. Although he did drive to Virginia on the night of Young’s death, he was seen leaving his hotel.
Furthermore, a cashier clerk interacted with him at the time Jason said he was sleeping in his hotel room (via WRAL). It’s also believed that Jason drugged Cassidy Young to murder his wife (per ABC News). However, this plan did not work effectively. Despite being a toddler, Cassidy made mention of her father while Young’s sister Meredith Fisher called a 911 operator. It’s also likely that Jason cleaned his daughter before he left the crime scene.
Beyond these details, ABC News writes that a bloody size twelve footprint made from Hush Puppies Orbital shoes was found. Investigators noted that Jason owned this type of shoe. He had also searched “anatomy of a knockout,” “head trauma knockout,” and “right posterior parietal occipital region” on his computer. Per the Daily Mail, Young had been hit in the head more than 30 times.
