Cops Expect Arrest 3 Years After Pregnant Mom's Murder

Nov. 4, 2009— -- Police said they expect to make an arrest soon in the bludgeoning death of Michelle Young, the pregnant North Carolina mother who was killed three years ago in front of her young daughter Cassidy. But they wouldn't say whether the person they are eyeing was her husband.

On Tuesday, the third anniversary of Young's murder, Wake County law enforcement officials told ABC News affiliate WTVD-TV in Raleigh-Durham, N.C., that they have not given up on the case, but have moved slowly to make sure that when they do make an arrest, it sticks.

"We've got one shot and we want to make sure when we go in with that shot, we're ready," Wake County Sheriff Donnie Harrison told WTVD-TV.

"We realize it's been three years and we've been working hard, but we try not to impose artificial deadlines on ourselves," Wake County District Attorney Colon Willoughby said in an interview with WTVD-TV.

Michelle Young's mother, sister and other relatives have said they suspected her husband, Jason Young, from the start. In March, they were awarded $15.6 million in damages in a wrongful death lawsuit against him, notching a victory in their quest to hold him responsible for her death.

Though Jason Young has never been named a suspect by police, the lead investigator in the case testified during the civil court trial that detectives believe he killed her. The civil suit was filed by Michelle Young's mother, Linda Fisher.

"The pretty obvious point was, this is not the way to end a marriage," Jack Michaels, Fisher's attorney in Raleigh, told ABCNews.com in March after the civil court ruling. "There are divorce courts for that."

Though the family had asked for $36 million, they were awarded $3.9 million in compensatory damages and $11.7 in punitive damages.

"We're probably never going to collect any of this," Michaels said. But if they do, "virtually every dime would go to Cassidy," he said, and the rest to pay for Michelle Young's funeral expenses.