The Yogurt Shop Murders: A Cold Case That Still Haunts Austin

On the night of December 6, 1991, a quiet strip mall in Austin, Texas, became the scene of one of the most horrifying crimes in the city’s history. What began as a routine evening shift for four teenage girls at an “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!” shop ended in tragedy. By morning, all four girls — Eliza Thomas (17), Amy Ayers (13), and sisters Sarah Harbison (15) and Jennifer Harbison (17) — were found murdered in the back of the shop, their bodies bound, shot execution-style, and set on fire in an attempt to destroy evidence.

More than three decades later, the case remains clouded in controversy, confusion, and heartbreak. Though several arrests have been made, the full truth of what happened that night — and who was truly responsible — continues to elude justice.

The Night of the Murders

Jennifer Harbison and Eliza Thomas were working the closing shift that evening. Jennifer had brought along her younger sister Sarah and her friend Amy Ayers, who were supposed to wait at the shop until her shift ended. At around 11:00 PM, the store was supposed to close, but a fire reported at 11:47 PM led authorities to discover the unimaginable.

Firefighters arrived to find the yogurt shop engulfed in flames. Once the blaze was extinguished, they uncovered the bodies of the four girls. It was immediately clear that this was not simply a fire — it was a crime scene. All four girls had been gagged, their hands tied behind their backs. Three had been shot in the head, and one had been shot twice after the first bullet failed to kill her.

The case shocked the nation. Four young lives, full of promise, had been brutally ended in a crime so violent it seemed unimaginable. The community demanded justice, and the police launched what would become one of the most complex and controversial investigations in Texas history.

A Tangled Investigation

For years, the investigation was marked by dead ends, false leads, and public pressure. It wasn’t until 1999 — eight years after the murders — that police arrested four young men: Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Maurice Pierce, and Forrest Welborn. The arrests were largely based on confessions obtained during intense interrogations. Springsteen and Scott were eventually tried and convicted.

However, cracks in the case began to form. There was no physical evidence tying the men to the scene. DNA evidence recovered did not match any of the four suspects. Over time, claims of coerced confessions and misconduct during the interrogation process led many to believe that the wrong men had been imprisoned.

In 2009, after DNA tests definitively excluded the defendants from the crime scene, charges were dropped, and the men were released from prison. For the families, it was a gut-wrenching development — relief that innocent men were not punished, but despair that justice had still not been served.

The Lingering Questions

To this day, the case remains unsolved. Investigators have periodically revisited the DNA evidence using modern forensic technology, but the identity of the male whose DNA was found at the scene is still unknown.

The FBI, Texas Rangers, and local law enforcement have continued to field tips and pursue new angles. The case is periodically reopened and discussed in the media, especially as new methods of forensic testing become available.

Despite public billboards, a $25,000 reward, and national media attention over the years, no arrests have been made since the previous convictions were overturned.

The Impact and Legacy

The Yogurt Shop Murders deeply changed the city of Austin. It shattered the sense of safety in the community and altered the course of life for four families who never got to see their daughters grow up. The case has been the subject of books, documentaries, and countless articles, symbolizing both the power of perseverance and the failure of the justice system.

Memorials have been erected, vigils held, and every anniversary marks another painful reminder that the case is still unresolved. Yet, the families and the community refuse to give up hope.


Call for Justice

As technology improves and cold cases around the country are solved using advanced DNA matching and genetic genealogy, many believe it is only a matter of time before the truth is uncovered. But until that day comes, the question remains:

Who killed these girls — and why?

The hope endures that someone, somewhere, still holds the key to solving the Yogurt Shop Murders. Until then, the memory of Eliza, Amy, Sarah, and Jennifer lives on — not only in the hearts of their loved ones but also as a tragic reminder that justice delayed is justice denied.