Four Men Declared Innocent in 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders

Judge clears names of men wrongly accused in brutal killings that haunted city for decades

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A Texas judge has formally declared four men innocent in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, closing a dark chapter in the city's history. The four men - Michael Scott, Forrest Welborn, Robert Springsteen, and Maurice Pierce - were wrongfully accused and prosecuted for the killings of four teenage girls, despite lack of evidence. After years of struggle to clear their names, the judge ruled they are innocent, paving the way for potential compensation for the time they spent incarcerated or under suspicion.

Why it matters

The yogurt shop murders shocked the Austin community and confounded investigators for decades. The wrongful accusations and convictions of these four men eroded public trust in the justice system and caused immense suffering for the individuals and their families. This ruling helps restore dignity and provides closure, while also raising questions about flaws in the criminal justice system that allowed such a grave injustice to occur.

The details

In 1991, four teenage girls - Amy Ayers, Eliza Thomas, and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison - were brutally murdered at the 'I Can't Believe It's Yogurt' shop where two of them worked. The girls were bound, gagged, and shot in the head, and the building was set on fire. Investigators chased thousands of leads and false confessions before arresting the four men, who were teenagers at the time, in 1999. Springsteen and Scott were convicted largely based on coerced confessions, but their convictions were later overturned. Welborn was charged but never tried, while Pierce spent three years in jail before the charges were dismissed. In 2025, new DNA evidence linked the murders to a suspect named Robert Eugene Brashers, who died in a 1999 standoff with police.

  • The murders occurred in 1991 in Austin, Texas.
  • The four men were arrested and prosecuted in 1999.
  • Springsteen and Scott's convictions were overturned in the mid-2000s.
  • Charges against Welborn and Pierce were dismissed in the 2000s.
  • The judge formally declared the four men innocent on February 19, 2026.

The players

Michael Scott

One of the four men wrongly accused of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders. He was convicted but later had his conviction overturned.

Forrest Welborn

One of the four men wrongly accused of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders. He was charged but never tried after two grand juries refused to indict him.

Robert Springsteen

One of the four men wrongly accused of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders. He was initially convicted and spent several years on death row before his conviction was overturned.

Maurice Pierce

One of the four men wrongly accused of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders. He spent three years in jail before the charges against him were dismissed and he was released.

Robert Eugene Brashers

The suspect who was ultimately linked to the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders through new DNA evidence in 2025. Brashers died in a 1999 standoff with police.

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What they’re saying

“You are innocent.”

— Dayna Blazey, State District Judge (wric.com)

“Over 25 years ago, the state prosecuted four innocent men … (for) one of the worst crimes Austin has ever seen. We could not have been more wrong.”

— Trudy Strassburger, Travis County First Assistant District Attorney (wric.com)

“My son's name has finally been cleared after more than 25 years of being called the monster, the murderer and everything else. Son, be proud.”

— Phil Scott, Michael Scott's father (wric.com)

“I lost my family. I lost my youth. My daughter was 3 years old when I was arrested. We had just celebrated our first wedding anniversary. I lost the chance to build a family. Every day I have carried the weight of a crime I did not commit.”

— Michael Scott (wric.com)

“Daddy, you have your name back. The world knows what you were trying to say all along.”

— Marisa Pierce, Daughter of Maurice Pierce (wric.com)

What’s next

The judge's declaration of innocence could be a key step for the four men and their families if they seek financial compensation for the years they spent incarcerated or under suspicion.

The takeaway

This case highlights the devastating impact of wrongful convictions and the importance of thorough investigations and safeguards in the criminal justice system. The decades-long struggle of these four men to clear their names underscores the need for reforms to prevent such grave injustices from occurring in the future.