Austin Police Solve 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders, Exonerating Four Wrongly Convicted Men
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Austin police have identified the late serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers as responsible for the 1991 rape and murders of four girls, a case known as the Yogurt Shop Murders. The breakthrough, announced in September 2025, led to the formal exoneration of four men wrongly convicted for the crimes and a $35 million restitution settlement from the city. A new HBO docuseries episode detailing the DNA evidence and the impact on all affected families is scheduled for release.
Facts First
- Robert Eugene Brashers was identified as the killer in the 1991 murders of Amy Ayers, Eliza Thomas, and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison.
- Four men were formally exonerated in February 2026 after being wrongly charged or convicted for the crimes.
- The city of Austin agreed to pay $35 million in restitution to the exonerated men and the family of one who was killed.
- A new HBO docuseries episode examines the DNA evidence and includes interviews with the exonerated and the killer's daughter.
- Brashers, who died in 1999, was a serial killer linked to at least four other murders beyond the Austin case.
What Happened
On September 27, 2025, Austin police announced they had solved the 1991 cold case involving the rape and murders of four girls. They identified Robert Eugene Brashers, a serial killer who died in 1999, as the person responsible. This led to the formal exoneration in February 2026 of four men—Forrest Welborn, Maurice Pierce, Robert Springsteen, and Michael Scott—who had been wrongly charged or convicted for the crimes. On May 13, the city of Austin agreed to pay a total of $35 million in restitution to Welborn, Springsteen, Scott, and the family of Pierce, who was fatally shot by police in 2010.
Why this Matters to You
This resolution demonstrates the tangible impact of persistent cold case work and advanced forensic technology, which may bring long-awaited answers to other unresolved cases in your community. For the wrongly convicted, the restitution settlement represents a significant, though incomplete, step toward redress for years lost. The forthcoming documentary episode could provide a clearer public understanding of how such a profound miscarriage of justice occurred and was ultimately corrected.
What's Next
The fifth episode of the HBO docuseries 'The Yogurt Shop Murders,' which examines the DNA evidence that led to Brashers' identification and includes interviews with those exonerated and the killer's daughter, is scheduled for release on May 22. The resolution of this case may encourage other jurisdictions to re-examine their own cold cases with similar forensic techniques.