Michelle Young Murder: Husband's Retrial Begins

The second trial of a man who is accused of beating his pregnant wife to death in their North Carolina home began with testimony from the dead woman's sister that the defendant was unfaithful with multiple mistresses.

Jason Young, 37, is on trial for first-degree murder a second time after a jury was deadlocked while deliberating last July. Michelle Young was 29 years old and five months pregnant with their second child when she was found face-down in a pool of blood by her sister, Meredith Fisher, in 2006.

Jason Young was released from jail in July 2011 after posting a $900,000 bond but now could face life in prison without the possibility of parole if convicted.

Fisher went to the couple's house after receiving a voicemail from Jason Young asking her to do a favor and see if she could find an item in the house near the computer.

In emotional testimony, Fisher described finding her sister, who was a star employee at Progress Energy, beaten with her then 2-year-old daughter, Cassidy, nearby.

"That's the small of her back, that I touched her and felt that she was cold," Fisher recalled.

Fisher tried to encourage Cassidy, the only witness and now age 7, to speak on the 911 call: "Sweetie do you know what happened to mommy? Did she fall?" Cassidy responded "She's got boo-boos everywhere."

Young says that he was at a hotel on a business trip in Hillsville, Va., 160 miles from their home in Raleigh, the night that his wife died.

The prosecution argued that Young drove back from Hillsville that night to murder Michelle, and then tampered with the hotel's security equipment to cover his tracks.

Keith Hicks, a worker at the hotel, testified that he found an unplugged security camera and an open emergency exit door.

Prosecutors say that Young cheated on his wife – an allegation that is not denied by defense and was corroborated in the man's first trial by two women. One of the mistresses to testify was a childhood friend of Jason Young and the other an ex-sorority sister of Michelle's -- both said they had sexual relationships with Jason Young in the months leading up to the murder of his wife.

"He's acted like an obnoxious, juvenile jerk. But what you've got to remember ladies and gentlemen, is that we don't convict people of murder, just because they act like jerks," said Young's lawyer.

In the first trial, Young's defense argued that the mystery behind the young mother's death remains unsolved, and that the killers are still on the loose.

Jason Young, Michelle's husband, showed no emotion as the court listened to Fisher's emergency call. In a rare move during his first trial Young took the stand in his own defense and tearfully denied having any involvement with his wife's murder, telling jurors he that while he was not a model husband, he loved Michelle and had nothing to do with her death.

In his first trial he jury deliberated over the course of three days. The deadlock resulted in eight votes in favor of acquittal and four for conviction.

ABC News' Caila Klaiss contributed to this report.

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9 comments

  • leena  •  Carlisle, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
    yea, he loved his wife sooooo much, he didn't even want to be part of her funeral and memorial arrangements. maybe this jury can put 2 and 2 together!!!!
    • leena 3 months ago
      and he loved her sooo much, when she was found dead, he did not talk to the police!!!!
  • jurydoc  •  Durham, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
    Why on EARTH does GMA allow Nancy (DIS)grace to comment on court cases?!?!? You have Dan Abrams, an actual legal SCHOLAR who uses reason, law and common sense in his commentary and analysis. Unlike DISgrace whose pomposity is exceeded only by her idiocy. This morning when Dan said the case was close, she said "no it isn't." Excuse me?!? I live in Raleigh where this case is being re-tried. The first trial ended with a hung jury. The first vote was 6-6; the second was 8-4 in favor of ACQUITTAL!!!. If movement was toward acquittal, then you can bet it is "close." And DISgrace wouldn't let Dan get a word in edgewise. If I were him, I would refuse to appear with her anymore. And GMA, you should be ashamed to even lend her ANY credence by asking her to appear on a "news" program.
  • DMattern  •  Denver, Colorado  •  3 months ago
    I love GMA and the way they handle stories with less drama than other stations, so for the life of me I can't figure out why they have Nancy Grace doing any sort of legal commentary, and I use the word commentary lightly. She is nothing more than Jerry Springer with a law degree in my opinion The show would be better, and have more dignity without her. Dan is bright, sensible, drama free, and talks about facts vs. "I know exactly what EVERYONE thinks and intends," like Nancy does. GMA YOU DON"T NEED HER!
  • pennyd  •  3 months ago
    Lied about where he was, when. Big red flag for me. In most cases, the spouse did it!
  • HM  •  Sligo, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
    Who has the 7 year old?
  • audrey B  •  Tampa, Florida  •  3 months ago
    I agree with D and J...why has GMA lowered their standards by having Nancy Grace on the show? Is it for ratings? Do they really need to have her on for that? She jumps to conclusions without all the facts. She is so rude! Any other time when she comes on I turn the station but because I enjoy Dan Abrams and respect his view on cases, I watch. If it continues, though, I may have to forgo that segment.
  • Aurora Kemen  •  3 months ago
    Sooner or later the little girl is going to speak.
  • New Yorker  •  Cary, North Carolina  •  3 months ago
    This case has a lot of twists and turns that are not "represented" in this article. Read some stuff regarding testimony and it really is kinda weird. No doubt this guy is a first class card carrying
    schmuck, but when 8 jurors aquit, you wonder if the whole story is here. Don't get me wrong, HOPE THE DUDE FRIES if he did this, but some of the testimony is kind of disturbing in another direction.
  • Dorma  •  Onalaska, Texas  •  3 months ago
    if he had nothing to do with the murder, why did he call her sister to find her
    • Laura 3 months ago
      Heck, why didn't he call home first about the item by the computer?