4 Men Exonerated in Horrific Austin Murders

Wrongfully accused for 1991 killings of 4 teen girls finally cleared after 25 years

Published on Feb. 27, 2026

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A Texas judge has formally declared four men innocent in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, clearing their names decades after they were wrongfully accused of the horrific killings of four teenage girls. The men, who were either convicted or charged in the case, have now been exonerated after new evidence linked the crimes to a suspect who died in a 1999 standoff with police.

Why it matters

The exoneration of these four men after over 25 years highlights the devastating impact of wrongful convictions and the importance of thorough investigations and DNA evidence in solving complex crimes. The case also sheds light on the long-lasting trauma experienced by the victims' families and the local community in Austin.

The details

In 1991, Amy Ayers, 13, Eliza Thomas, 17, and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, 17 and 15, were bound, gagged and shot in the head at the "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt" store where two of them worked. The building was then set on fire. Four men - Michael Scott, Forrest Welborn, Robert Springsteen, and Maurice Pierce - were arrested in 1999 and either convicted or charged, despite claims that their confessions were coerced. However, new DNA evidence in 2025 linked the crimes to Robert Eugene Brashers, who died in a 1999 standoff with police.

  • The murders took place in 1991 in Austin, Texas.
  • The four men were arrested in late 1999.
  • Springsteen and Scott's convictions were overturned in the mid-2000s.
  • Charges against Welborn were dismissed after two grand juries refused to indict him.
  • Pierce spent three years in jail before the charges against him were dismissed in 1992.

The players

Robert Eugene Brashers

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

Michael Scott

One of the four men who was wrongfully accused and convicted in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, before being exonerated.

Forrest Welborn

One of the four men who was wrongfully accused in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, but never tried after two grand juries refused to indict him.

Robert Springsteen

One of the four men who was wrongfully accused and convicted in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, before being exonerated.

Maurice Pierce

One of the four men who was wrongfully accused in the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, spending three years in jail before the charges were dismissed.

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What they’re saying

“You are innocent.”

— Dayna Blazey, State District Judge

“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

“All four lived under the specter of the yogurt shop murders. These four never had the chance to live normal lives.”

— Trudy Strassburger, Travis County First Assistant District Attorney

“Let us not forgot that Robert Springsteen could be dead right now, executed at the hands of the State of Texas.”

— Amber Farrelly, Springsteen's attorney

What’s next

The exoneration of the four men is a key step for them and their families to seek financial compensation for the years they spent in jail or prison.

The takeaway

This case highlights the devastating impact of wrongful convictions and the importance of thorough investigations and DNA evidence in solving complex crimes. It also underscores the long-lasting trauma experienced by victims' families and communities when justice is not served.