Search warrants in Young murder resealed

A Superior Court judge has again signed affidavits allowing the Wake County Sheriff's Office to reseal two search warrants in connection with the 2006 slaying of Michelle Young, according to court documents made public today.

The affidavits signed by Judge Donald Stephens allow sheriff's deputies to keep secret evidence they may have seized from residences in Transylvania and Henderson counties, where Jason Young, the husband of the slain woman, has been living since her death.

Stephens first sealed the Young search warrants in February, court records show. He also sealed search warrants in two other murder cases, including that Nancy Cooper of Cary, killed in July, and Vanlata Patel of Mecklenburg County, killed in January.

Michelle Young , 29, was found beaten to death Nov. 3, 2006, at the couple's home near Lake Wheeler, south of Raleigh. She was pregnant and her toddler daughter was crawling near her body when she was found, investigators reported.

Jason Young has said he was on a business trip when his wife was killed and has not been named a suspect in her death.

Nevertheless, Jason Young has been a major focus of the homicide investigation.

Documents in the case show that Jason Young was the beneficiary of a substantial life insurance policy in Michelle Young 's name. In addition, investigators have said that Jason Young had a romantic relationship with a Florida woman who attended N.C. State University at the same time as the couple.

The courts also ordered Jason Young to submit blood and saliva for a DNA profile soon after his wife's death. Investigators have searched Jason Young's vehicle, insurance documents, phone and computer records.

Wake Sheriff Donnie Harrison early into his office's investigation described Jason Young as "uncooperative" with efforts to capture his wife's killer.

Sheriff's investigators searched homes in Etowah on Timberlane Drive and in Brevard on Mockingbird Lane on Feb. 13.

Sheriff's deputies sought to have the warrants sealed because they think that the public release of the information may hinder their investigation, according to the affidavit.

"Information included in the search warrant...includes sensitive information which is the subject of an ongoing investigation," according to the affidavit.

Stephens agreed on Friday to seal the warrants for 10 more days after which they will be made available to the public, court records show.