Four men exonerated in 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders

Hearing set to officially clear wrongly accused individuals after serial killer identified as perpetrator

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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Four men who were falsely accused of killing four teenage girls at an Austin yogurt shop in 1991 are expected to be exonerated today by a state district judge. The hearing, which will be livestreamed, is set to begin at 9 a.m. in the auxiliary courtroom on the first floor of the Travis County Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center. Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Maurice Pierce and Forrest Welborn were falsely accused of the killings, with Springsteen and Scott convicted in 1999 before the convictions were overturned a decade later.

Why it matters

The exoneration hearing is an official acknowledgment that the four men were wrongly accused, prosecuted and imprisoned for a crime they did not commit. It comes after DNA evidence linked the 1991 murders to serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers, who Austin cold case detectives believe acted alone. The case highlights the need for criminal justice reform and better investigative practices to prevent wrongful convictions.

The details

In September 2025, DNA analysts officially linked the slayings to serial killer Robert Eugene Brashers, who Austin cold case detectives believe acted alone. The hearing is expected to be an official acknowledgment that the four men were wrongly accused, prosecuted and imprisoned. Scott, Welborn and members of Pierce's family are expected to attend, while Springsteen's attorney said he would not.

  • The hearing is set to begin at 9 a.m. on February 19, 2026.
  • The four men were falsely accused and convicted in 1999, with the convictions overturned a decade later.

The players

Robert Springsteen

One of the four men falsely accused and convicted of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, whose conviction was later overturned.

Michael Scott

One of the four men falsely accused and convicted of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, whose conviction was later overturned.

Maurice Pierce

One of the four men falsely accused of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders.

Forrest Welborn

One of the four men falsely accused of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders.

Robert Eugene Brashers

The serial killer who was identified through DNA evidence as the perpetrator of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders.

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What they’re saying

“The exoneration hearing is an important step in acknowledging the grave injustice these men have suffered and providing them the opportunity to seek restitution.”

— Lisa Davis, Austin Police Chief (statesman.com)

What’s next

The finding that the four men are 'actually innocent' will enable them to more effectively seek restitution through civil litigation against the city of Austin and Travis County.

The takeaway

This case highlights the need for criminal justice reform and better investigative practices to prevent wrongful convictions. The exoneration of these four men, after they spent years imprisoned for a crime they did not commit, is a stark reminder of the importance of thorough and unbiased investigations to ensure the right perpetrators are held accountable.