Mystery Still Haunts Austin as Yogurt Shop Murders Resurface with New Documentary Spotlight
A Cold Case That Shook a City
More than three decades after one of Austin’s most horrific crimes, the haunting case of the Yogurt Shop Murders is back in the spotlight, reigniting emotions, unanswered questions, and deep frustrations over justice still not served.
On the night of December 6, 1991, four teenage girls were brutally murdered inside a small yogurt shop in northwest Austin, Texas. Despite multiple arrests, overturned convictions, and extensive investigations, the case remains officially unsolved.
The Night of the Tragedy
Jennifer Harbison (17) was working the evening shift at I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! along with Eliza Thomas (17). Jennifer’s younger sister Sarah Harbison (15) and Amy Ayers (13) were at the store waiting for a ride home.
Tragically, none of them made it back.
Just before midnight, a patrol officer spotted flames coming from the store. Firefighters arrived to battle the blaze but instead found a gruesome scene—the charred bodies of all four girls. Investigators believed the fire was deliberately set to destroy evidence.
Medical examiners later confirmed that Amy Ayers was shot twice, and the other three girls were each shot once in the back of the head. There was no sign of forced entry. The front door was locked, the back door open. Cash was missing, leading police to initially suspect a robbery—but some theorized the crime scene might have been staged to mislead.
A City in Shock and a Trail of Suspects
Austin police launched one of the most expansive investigations in city history. At one point, over 300 suspects were interviewed.
Just eight days after the killings, 16-year-old Maurice Pierce was arrested near the crime scene with a .22-caliber revolver. He implicated himself and three friends: Forrest Welborn (15), Michael Scott (17), and Robert Springsteen IV (17). But the others denied involvement, and no charges were filed at the time due to insufficient evidence.
Years passed. In 1999, cold case detectives revisited the case. Michael Scott was brought in for interrogation. After prolonged questioning, he confessed—and also named the others again. Springsteen was arrested shortly after and gave a videotaped confession, claiming he had sexually assaulted and murdered one of the girls.
All four were arrested and charged with capital murder in 1999.
Trials, Confessions, and Controversy
Scott and Springsteen’s confessions became the backbone of the case—but they both later recanted, claiming they were coerced by investigators. Police denied these allegations.
Despite their retractions, both were convicted in separate trials. Springsteen received the death penalty in 2001; Scott was sentenced to life in prison in 2002.
Meanwhile, the cases against Pierce and Welborn unraveled. Pierce was held for three years before charges were dropped due to lack of evidence. Welborn was never indicted.
In a major turn, Springsteen’s conviction was overturned in 2006, followed by Scott’s in 2007. Courts ruled that using the co-defendants’ statements as evidence without cross-examination violated their constitutional rights.
DNA Breakthrough and a Lingering Mystery
In 2009, both Scott and Springsteen were released when new DNA tests from crime scene evidence failed to match any of the four original suspects. The DNA belonged to an unidentified male, reviving hope—and dread—that the real killer may still be unknown and free.
Maurice Pierce died in 2010 in an unrelated police encounter. The other three former suspects have maintained their innocence.
Today, the case is still open but cold. Authorities continue to wait for advancements in DNA technology to help crack the case. Investigators believe that DNA holds the key to solving the mystery once and for all.
A Gripping Docuseries Brings the Case Back into Focus
Premiering on August 3, 2025, a new HBO docuseries titled The Yogurt Shop Murders revisits the case with a detailed, emotional lens. The series dives into archival footage, police records, and family interviews, uncovering the flaws in the investigation and how it changed Austin forever.
Director Margaret Brown captures the raw, unresolved grief of the victims’ families. “There never is closure,” they said. “You learn how to live alongside it, but it never loses its potency.”
A City Still Searching for Answers
The yogurt shop murders remain one of the most devastating crimes in Texas history. Despite arrests, trials, and national headlines, justice remains elusive. The community—and the families of Jennifer, Sarah, Eliza, and Amy—are still waiting for the day when the case can finally be closed.
The question remains: Who killed the four girls in that yogurt shop—and why?
The answer may still lie in the DNA, waiting to be discovered.