richard spivey, then a sergeant with the wake county sheriff's office probably knows the ka s better than anyone. >> i mean, this was just a brutal, vicious beating. there was a lot of time and energy invested into this assault. >> why do you say a lot of time and energy? >> the medical examiner told us there were over 30 blows with some sort of blunt object. >> so detectives started investigating the victim and everyone else around her. michelle young was born and raised on long island, new york. >> she was smiling all the time. and she was the life of the party. >> stacia grossman knew her from childhood. >> she didn't like being the center of attention, but liked creating a great atmosphere to have a great time. >> michelle was a cheerleader in high school and a straight "a" student. jennifer powers felt drawn to her. >> she had this kind of bookworm side to her. she was very studious and goal-oriented. i mean, she was also just a great person to be around, a fun, happy spirit. and, you know, someone i wanted to spend a lot of time with. >> lots of people did. and when she chose a

sergeant richard spivey of the wake county sheriff's office probably knows the case better than anyone>> i mean, this was just a brutal, vicious beating. there was a lot of time and energy invested into this assault. >> reporter: why do you say a lot of time and energy? >> the medical examiner told us there were over 30 blows with some sort of blunt object. >> reporter: so detectives started investigating the victim. and everyone else around her. michelle young was born and raised on long island, new york. >> she was smiling all the time. and she was the life of the party. >> reporter: stacia grossman knew her from childhood. >> she didn't like being the center of attention, but liked creating a great atmosphere to have a great time. >> reporter: michelle was a cheerleader in high school and straight "a" student. jennifer powers felt drawn to her. >> she had this kind of bookworm side to her. she was very studious and goal-oriented. i mean, she was also just a great person to be around, a fun, happy spirit. and, you know, someone i wanted to spend a lot of time with. >> reporter: lots

sergeant richard spivey, lead investigator. >> those of us that work in law enforcement, this is our we're also parents. that certainly strikes a different note with you when you see something like that. >> michelle's husband jason, a medical software salesman, was 170 miles away the night of the murder. even so, investigators had to look at him. >> we know he was the last person to talk to michelle that night. and he was also the reason why she was found. he called meredith fisher to go to the house. >> reporter: jason young's business trip that night was routine. security tape showed him getting gas, 7:30 p.m. as he left raleigh. two hours later he was seen on tape at a cracker barrel restaurant in greensboro. later he checked into this hampton inn in hillsdale, virginia. this is him front desk. about 11:00 p.m. and him again at midnight. he also made a phone call around midnight. and that was the last time anybody heard from jason young until he made another call at 7:40 the next morning. >> a normal person would look at this and say he was 170 miles away. he's got an alibi. >> th