Anastasia Nicolazzi

You know, it's interesting. I think especially for people on the outside, you know, is it that there's not enough evidence or were investigators and prosecutors being overly careful? And a lot of times it comes down to door B or at least somewhere in between.

You know, it's interesting. I think especially for people on the outside, you know, is it that there's not enough evidence or were investigators and prosecutors being overly careful? And a lot of times it comes down to door B or at least somewhere in between.

You know, I always think about all those conversations in my office or in the supervisor's office in homicide that you're debating with detectives and we're often on the same page. Like, yeah, we have all this, but because it's circumstantial, we're just waiting for that one more thing that takes away what we— think might be the hindrance or the biggest hurdle in a case.

You know, I always think about all those conversations in my office or in the supervisor's office in homicide that you're debating with detectives and we're often on the same page. Like, yeah, we have all this, but because it's circumstantial, we're just waiting for that one more thing that takes away what we— think might be the hindrance or the biggest hurdle in a case.

But ultimately, there's that one thing you suspect, you believe, the evidence is growing, but it's not yet there. So it is that tough question, which is obviously subjective sometimes. When is it enough to walk into court, especially when a case is circumstantial?

But ultimately, there's that one thing you suspect, you believe, the evidence is growing, but it's not yet there. So it is that tough question, which is obviously subjective sometimes. When is it enough to walk into court, especially when a case is circumstantial?

And sometimes, again, it's us together, right, as we hammer out these cases, you know, whether it's you and me, Scott, talking it through or as a prosecutor with the investigators in these real-life situations in our offices. It's just sometimes we're just waiting for that thing that ultimately we're like, hey, it hasn't appeared. It's time to take our shot. And that's kind of what happened here.

And sometimes, again, it's us together, right, as we hammer out these cases, you know, whether it's you and me, Scott, talking it through or as a prosecutor with the investigators in these real-life situations in our offices. It's just sometimes we're just waiting for that thing that ultimately we're like, hey, it hasn't appeared. It's time to take our shot. And that's kind of what happened here.

That delayed justice? As you can imagine, it was especially hard on Michelle's family.

That delayed justice? As you can imagine, it was especially hard on Michelle's family.

And basically with a civil case, that's not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The burden of proof is different. It's a preponderance of the evidence. And the sentence is not prison, but monetary relief, often never collected.

And basically with a civil case, that's not proof beyond a reasonable doubt. The burden of proof is different. It's a preponderance of the evidence. And the sentence is not prison, but monetary relief, often never collected.

But families have definitely told me that they have filed them at least sometimes in part because they want to hear someone say that this person has been proven to have committed the crime.

But families have definitely told me that they have filed them at least sometimes in part because they want to hear someone say that this person has been proven to have committed the crime.

And soon afterwards, the prosecutor's office also charged Young with Michelle's murder.

And soon afterwards, the prosecutor's office also charged Young with Michelle's murder.

But as he had already shown for the last five years, Young would prove to be a formidable defendant.

But as he had already shown for the last five years, Young would prove to be a formidable defendant.

And you know what? It worked. His criminal trial ended in a mistrial with the jury deadlocked.

And you know what? It worked. His criminal trial ended in a mistrial with the jury deadlocked.