and by the frontline journalism fund, with major support from jon and jo ann hagler. >> michelle was the youngest of all of us-- of six-- and she was the one that we always looked out for. she was an amazing athlete. she loved to swim. she could climb a tree faster than anybody. michelle was very fun-loving. she was very outgoing. >> i mean, michelle just embraced life. >> she loved being a mom, even though she was a single mom. she made the best out of that situation. she worked two jobs, sometimes three jobs, just to support alexis. >> michelle went skydiving one time, and before she could go, she had to write a letter to lexi just in case something was to happen to her. >> "my life began after having alexis, and the love i have for her could never be measured. but i want to make sure that if something does happen to me, that alexis will be loved, safe, happy, praised and protected. i don't like thinking about it, because i plan on being here for alexis for a long time." (phone ringing) >> 9-1-1. >> narrator: on september 2, 2010, 24-year-old michelle o'connell died