the fact that cassidy was spared would that mean anything to a jury? the person that killed the mother cared about cassidy. and now a stunning new twist in the case i m lester holt and this is dateline. here is keith morrison with silent witness. i think i paused for a second and had to take a deep breath. and just the reality of what was going on would sink in. reporter: those who sought footprints will not forget them. they were tiny and they were bloody. i had to get my composure to finish searching this house to make sure there was nobody else in the house. reporter: it was november 3, 2006 early afternoon. deputy scott earp had been dispatched to a neighborhood enchanted oaks the outskirts of ralei raleigh, north carolina. here for the 911 call from this place, on birchfield drive. the caller was meredith fisher. she had just discovered on the floor of the master bedroom, the savagely beaten body of her elder sister 29-year-old michelle young, a woman
but maybe she didn t have to. the fact that cassidy was spared would that mean anything to a jury? the person that killed the mother cared about cassidy. and now a stunning new twist in the case i m lester holt and this is dateline. here is keith morrison with silent witness. i think i paused for a second and had to take a deep breath. and just the reality of what was going on would sink in. reporter: those who sought footprints will not forget them. they were tiny and they were bloody. i had to get my composure to finish searching this house to make sure there was nobody else in the house. reporter: it was november 3, 2006 early afternoon. deputy scott earp had been dispatched to a neighborhood enchanted oaks the outskirts of ralei raleigh, north carolina. here for the 911 call from this place, on birchfield drive. the caller was meredith fisher. she had just discovered on the floor of the master bedroom, the savagely beaten body of her elder sister 29-ye
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 center of the 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. she was also just a great person to be around, a fun, happy spirit. and you know someone that i wanted to spend a lot of time with. reporter: lots of people did. and when she chose a college far from home north carolina state, she was soon surrounded again by an admiring group of women friend. best friends, buddies. fiora