Austin, September 29, 2025
News Summary
The case of the 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders in Austin has been resolved with the identification of Robert Eugene Brashers as the perpetrator. Utilizing advanced genetic genealogy technology, law enforcement linked Brashers’ DNA to the murders of four teenage girls. A press conference is scheduled to provide further updates. This tragic case, which went cold for decades, has drawn renewed attention following a recent docuseries.
Austin – The long-unsolved 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders have been resolved, with law enforcement confirming the identification of the perpetrator as Robert Eugene Brashers, an American serial killer who died by suicide in 1999. This breakthrough in the case was made possible through cutting-edge genetic genealogy technology, which linked Brashers’ DNA to the murders.
The City of Austin and the Austin Police Department are scheduled to hold a press conference at 10 a.m. on Monday to provide further updates on the case. A live stream of the event will be available on all platforms.
The notorious murders occurred on December 6, 1991, at an “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!” shop in North Austin, where four teenage girls were tragically killed. The victims were identified as Jennifer Harbison (17), Sarah Harbison (15), Eliza Thomas (17), and Amy Ayers (13). Jennifer and Eliza were employees at the yogurt shop, while Amy and Sarah were visiting before closing time.
After the girls were murdered, the shop was set on fire, which destroyed potential forensic evidence crucial to the investigation. Following the murders, initial suspects included four men who were arrested in 1999: Maurice Pierce, Forrest Welborn, Michael Scott, and Robert Springsteen IV. However, two of these arrests resulted in overturned convictions due to improper use of confessions in court, while the other two did not go to trial. In total, there were extensive calls for renewed investigations and DNA testing in recent years, particularly focusing on the evidence from Amy Ayers’ body.
The case remained cold for decades until a recent docuseries titled The Yogurt Shop Murders aired on HBO Max earlier this year, reigniting interest in the investigation. Ultimately, Brashers’ DNA was identified through genetic genealogy, utilizing family DNA samples that confirmed his profile matched the forensic evidence from the yogurt shop murders and other related crimes.
Brashers was not only linked to the Yogurt Shop Murders but also to multiple other crimes, including the 1990 murder of Genevieve Zitricki in Greenville, South Carolina, the 1997 rape of a 14-year-old girl in Memphis, and the 1998 double murder of Sherri Scherer and her 12-year-old daughter Megan in Missouri. Investigators continued to pursue leads until Brashers was identified, despite him having died in 1999.
Former suspect Maurice Pierce tragically lost his life when shot by police in 2010 during another incident. Currently, the other suspects, Scott and Springsteen, are not facing any further legal action as their convictions were overturned.
Key Developments
- Identified perpetrator: Robert Eugene Brashers.
- Date of murders: December 6, 1991.
- Victims: Jennifer Harbison (17), Sarah Harbison (15), Eliza Thomas (17), Amy Ayers (13).
- Key technology used: Genetic genealogy.
- Press conference for updates: Scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m.
| Key Features | Details |
|---|---|
| Perpetrator Identified | Robert Eugene Brashers |
| Crime Solving Technology | Genetic genealogy |
| Date of Murders | December 6, 1991 |
| Victims | Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison, Eliza Thomas, Amy Ayers |
| Press Conference | Scheduled for Monday at 10 a.m. |
Deeper Dive: News & Info About This Topic
HERE Resources
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DNA Evidence Links New Suspect to 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders
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Austin Police Investigate Homicide at Southeast Mobile Home Park
Investigation Launched After Body Found at North Austin Bus Stop
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HBO Series Investigates Unsolved Austin Yogurt Shop Murders
Additional Resources
- New York Times
- Wikipedia: 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders
- Austin American-Statesman
- Google Search: 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders
- Associated Press
- Google Scholar: 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders
- The Guardian
- Encyclopedia Britannica: 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders
- Washington Post
- Google News: 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders
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