DNA Evidence Links Dead Suspect to Yogurt Shop Murders After 30 Years

DNA Breakthrough Solves 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders.A 34-year-old cold case has been officially solved. The Austin Police Department announced a suspect has been identified in the 1991 murders of four teenage girls. The suspect is Robert Eugene Brashers, who died by suicide in 1999.This breakthrough came through advanced DNA testing. According to Reuters, investigators linked Brashers to the crime scene through a wide range of genetic evidence. The case had remained one of Texas’s most haunting unsolved crimes.

Case Details and a Tragic Night

The murders occurred on December 6, 1991. Firefighters responding to a blaze at the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!” shop discovered the victims. The four girls were Eliza Thomas, 17; Jennifer Harbison, 17; Sarah Harbison, 15; and Amy Ayers, 13.They had been bound, gagged, and shot. The fire was set deliberately to destroy evidence. The crime shocked the community and launched a decades-long investigation.

A Long and Complicated Investigation

The case was fraught with challenges. Evidence was badly damaged by the fire. Over the years, police pursued thousands of leads without a definitive answer.Two men, Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott, were once wrongfully convicted. Their convictions were later overturned. The recent DNA match to Brashers finally provides a definitive answer for the families.

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This resolution in the Austin yogurt shop murders case brings a long-awaited sense of closure. The identification of Robert Eugene Brashers ends a 34-year mystery for a grieving community.

Thought you’d like to know

Who was Robert Eugene Brashers?

Robert Eugene Brashers was a serial offender who died in 1999. He was linked to other murders and sexual assaults in the 1990s across multiple states before his death.

How was the case finally solved?

Advanced DNA testing techniques not available in 1991 were used. Austin Police used a wide range of genetic analysis to connect Brashers to evidence from the crime scene.

What happened to the wrongfully convicted men?

Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott had their convictions overturned in the mid-2000s. The courts found their confessions were improperly used during the trials.

Why did it take so long to solve this case?

The initial evidence was heavily damaged by the fire. It took decades for DNA technology to advance enough to produce a reliable match from the degraded samples.

Is the investigation completely closed now?

Authorities state this remains an open investigation. They are likely reviewing Brashers’ timeline for other potential connections to unsolved crimes.