Austin, TX

The Yogurt Shop Murders: Inside The 1991 Slaying Of Four Teenage Girls That Remains Unsolved To This Day

Published

7 months ago

September 10, 2025

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The Yogurt Shop Murders: Inside The 1991 Slaying Of Four Teenage Girls That Remains Unsolved To This Day

On December 6, 1991, four girls were brutally murdered at an I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! shop in Austin, Texas — and the case remains unsolved to this day.

HBOThe four victims of the Austin Yogurt Shop Murders, Eliza Thomas, Amy Ayers, Sarah Harbison, and Jennifer Harbison.

Shortly before midnight on Dec. 6, 1991, a patrol officer in Austin, Texas, noticed a fire at an “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt!” shop. When firefighters responded, they discovered more than a fire inside — they discovered the nude bodies of four teenage girls who’d been bound and shot to death. With that, the investigation into the Austin Yogurt Shop murders began.

To this day, the mystery still hasn’t been solved. Police have still not found the killer, or killers, who murdered 17-year-old Jennifer Harbison, her sister 15-year-old Sarah Harbison, 17-year-old Eliza Thomas, and 13-year-old Amy Ayers, on that terrible December night back in 1991.

Over the years, multiple people have confessed. But even though two men were convicted in the early 2000s, those convictions were later overturned. That said, investigators have not lost hope, and are determined to use modern technology like DNA testing to finally crack the case.

This is everything you need to know about the Austin Yogurt Shop murders, one of the most chilling cold cases in American history.

Inside The 1991 Austin Yogurt Shop Murders

The story of the Austin Yogurt Shop murders began on Dec. 6, 1991. That evening, two girls were working at an I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! shop in Austin, Texas: 17-year-old Eliza Thomas and 17-year-old Jennifer Harbison. That night, Jennifer’s 15-year-old sister Sarah was in the shop, as well as Sarah’s friend, 13-year-old Amy Ayers.

HBOThe interior of the yogurt shop where the girls’ bodies were found.

No one knows exactly what happened to the girls that night. But shortly before midnight, a patrol officer making his rounds noticed smoke coming from the shop. He called in the fire department, and, inside, the firefighters found the bodies of Jennifer, Sarah, Thomas, and Ayers.

The girls had been stripped, bound and gagged, and shot in the head. At least one had been sexually assaulted.

But though investigators suspected that the murders could be the result of a robbery gone wrong — as money was missing from the store’s cash register — much of the evidence at the scene was destroyed by fire and water.

Austin Police DepartmentFire ripped through the store, destroying much of the evidence.

Not only had the fire torn through the entire shop, destroying crucial evidence, but it had also burned the girls’ bodies beyond recognition. Store manager Reese Price, who was then 24 years old, was called in to identify her employees and found that she couldn’t.

“There wasn’t anything there to identify,” Price stated in the HBO docuseries The Yogurt Shop Murders. “Fire is very destructive. It’s not forgiving.”

Despite these challenges, investigators set out to determine who had killed the girls.

Constructing The Profile Of The Killer — Or Killers

Given the destruction of the scene, investigators had very little to go on. They knew that the killer or killers had used two different guns: a .380 pistol and a .22 revolver, according to the Austin Chronicle. But much of the early investigation into the Yogurt Shop Murders was guesswork.

Austin Police DepartmentThe fire inside the yogurt shop destroyed crucial evidence after the girls were murdered.

The FBI ultimately developed a profile of the likely killer or killers, describing them as “underachievers” probably “in their late teens to early twenties” who resented “any form of discipline.” The profile suggested that the killers had committed the murders under the influence of drugs or alcohol, and that they likely had a past criminal history.

Boiling down the profile to a single word, police described their suspect as a “thug.”

HBOThe exterior of the yogurt shop where the four girls were killed in 1991.

But despite a cash reward for any information about the Austin Yogurt Shop murders, it would take years for police to make any arrests. When they did, it was because they’d circled back to some of their earliest suspects.

The Austin Police Arrest Four Men In Connection With The Yogurt Shop Murders

The first arrests in the Yogurt Shop Murders came after investigators examined one of their old leads. Just eight days after the quadruple homicide, police had arrested 16-year-old Maurice Pierce. Pierce had been caught wandering around Northcross Mall, near the I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! shop, carrying a .22 caliber revolver.

Pierce’s gun was the same type of weapon that had been used in the Yogurt Shop Murders. And, under questioning, Pierce claimed that he had participated in the homicides alongside three other boys: 15-year-old Forrest Welborn, 17-year-old Michael Scott, and 17-year-old Robert Springsteen IV. However, there was no evidence tying them to the crime scene and police ultimately concluded that Pierce “was lying and had just made up the whole story about the gun being used,” according to court records.

But eight years later, in 1999, police reexamined Pierce’s story. They re-interviewed Scott that September and, after a lengthy interrogation, Scott confessed to the murders and implicated the three others. Police then interrogated Springsteen, who also confessed, and claimed that he had sexually assaulted one of the girls.

Austin Police DepartmentPolice interrogated two suspects in 1999. Both confessed. And yet both convictions were eventually overturned.

With that, Scott, Springsteen, Welborn, and Pierce were arrested and charged with capital murder. Though charges against Welborn and Pierce were ultimately dropped due to lack of evidence, Scott and Springsteen went to trial.

Both men plead not guilty and claimed that their confessions were coerced. But they were found guilty. Springsteen was sentenced to death in 2001, and Scott was sentenced to life in prison in 2002.

But neither of the two convictions would stick.

The Case Against Scott And Springsteen Falls Apart

After Scott and Springsteen were found guilty for the Austin Yogurt Shop murders, flaws emerged in their conviction. Their separate confessions had been used against each other, but Scott and Springsteen weren’t permitted to question each other in court, a violation of the Sixth Amendment.

Austin ChronicleYearbook photos of Michael Scott and Robert Springsteen.

What’s more, it came out that Pierce’s gun was not a definitive match to the .22 used during the quadruple homicide, and that investigators had held a gun to Scott’s head during his interrogation.

In 2006, Springsteen’s conviction was overturned. In 2007, so was Scott’s. Hoping to retry the men, investigators then turned to DNA testing, which had advanced since the 1990s. But, to their surprise, an examination of male DNA found at the scene determined that it was not a match to Scott or Springsteen — or even to Pierce or Welborn.

With that, the Austin Yogurt Murder Case went colder than ever. But investigators are still hopeful that they’ll be able to one day solve it.

Will The Austin Yogurt Murders Ever Be Solved?

If Scott and Springsteen were not involved in the murders, who killed Eliza Thomas, Amy Ayers, and Jennifer and Sarah Harbison in 1991? The case remains unsolved. But investigators haven’t given up.

Although DNA at the scene did not match the four suspects, investigators are still hopeful that it will be a match to someone, some day. Though there are no matches right now, advances in DNA technology might help solve this cold case for good in the near future.

Indeed, Detective Dan Jackson, who took over the case in 2022, remains optimistic that it could be solved.

“If I didn’t think I could solve it, then why get up every day?” Jackson told USA Today in 2025. “I think that with new technology, new information that we have − that I can’t go into — even since I’ve taken the case over, the ability to do more with less when it comes to forensics is light-years ahead than it was a few years ago.”

“I am confident that I will solve this,” Jackson declared.

After reading about the unsolved case of the Austin Yogurt Shop murders, go inside the stories of mysterious disappearances that remain unsolved to this day. Or, discover the story of the unsolved murders at Lumber Baron Inn.

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Austin, TX

Detectives Investigating Homicide on Tuscany Way in East Austin

Published

3 hours ago

April 4, 2026

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Detectives Investigating Homicide on Tuscany Way in East Austin

The Austin Police Department is investigating a Thursday evening shooting at the Penske Rental Truck facility in East Austin that resulted in the death of a 39-year-old man.

The department revealed details about the incident in a Friday press release. At around 5:42 p.m., Austin police officers responded to a shoot/stab hotshot call at the Penske Rental Truck facility located at 8201 Tuscany Way.

The caller reported that a man had been shot. When officers arrived, they encountered two individuals next to a man on the ground suffering from visible gunshot wounds. The injured person was later identified as 39-year-old William Rogers.

APD officers provided Rogers with medical assistance until Austin-Travis County Emergency Medical Services arrived on the scene to transport him to a local hospital, where he died.

Homicide detectives and crime scene specialists responded to the scene and learned that Rogers and another man, 28-year-old Javarus Crumpton, knew each other and both worked as movers.

The two men and the third man arrived at the facility to rent a Penske moving truck. After an argument arose regarding the rental deposit cost, Crumpton allegedly shot Rogers. Crumpton and the third person remained on the scene and are cooperating with the investigation.

No arrests have been made in the case, which is being investigated as Austin’s 17th homicide of 2026. The Travis County District Attorney’s Office was notified about the incident.

Residents with information about the case can contact APD at 512-974-TIPS. Submit anonymous tips through the Capital Area Crime Stoppers Program by visiting its website or calling 512-472-8477. A reward of up to $1,000 may be available for any information that leads to an arrest.

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Austin, TX

Bluebonnets Austin: 25 Best Places To See Blooms In 2026

Published

15 hours ago

April 3, 2026

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Bluebonnets Austin

Jump To: Central Austin | North Austin | South Austin | East Austin | West Austin

Each spring, spotting the vibrant bluebonnets Austin has in bloom is a quintessential Texas experience. From the historic bluffs of Pease Park to the curated displays at Zilker Botanical Garden, the city offers diverse ways to enjoy these iconic flowers.

Editor’s Note: We work hard to provide you with accurate and up-to-date information. However, all details are subject to change. Please verify information before heading out.

This post may contain affiliate links. If you click and make a purchase, we may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.

We only recommend experiences we truly believe in! Curious about how we choose our content? Here’s our process.

Remember to check out our complete guide to Easter Egg Hunt Austin, Best Summer Camps in Austin, Restaurants with Playgrounds in Austin, Things To Do with Teens in Austin, Spring Break 2026 Camps in Austin!

Bluebonnets Central Austin

University of Texas at Austin

Image credit: The University of Texas at Austin

Discover a hidden gem: stunning bluebonnet displays right on the University of Texas at Austin campus. Explore historic buildings and gardens while enjoying these iconic Texas blooms.

Where: 2515 Speedway, Austin, TX 78712
Operating Hours: Saturday – Sunday CLOSED | Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Pease District Park

Pease Park embodies the essence of Austin, with limestone bluffs, shaded trails, and rich history. Discover bluebonnets amidst this 84-acre oasis, restored and maintained by the Conservancy for everyone to enjoy.

Where: 1100 Kingsbury St, Austin, TX 78703
Operating Hours: Daily 6:00 am- 10:00 pm

Barton Creek Greenbelt

Explore the Barton Creek Greenbelt: hiking, swimming, rock climbing, and vibrant bluebonnet displays! Discover multiple entry points along the creek and portions of the Violet Crown Trail within this Austin gem.

Where: 3755 S Capital of Texas Hwy B, Austin, TX 78704
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

Texas State Capitol

Explore Texas history and stunning bluebonnet displays at the iconic Texas State Capitol. This granite landmark, a National Historic Landmark, offers tours, exhibits, and a beautiful setting for wildflower viewing.

Where: 1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX 78701
Operating Hours: Sunday CLOSED | Monday – Thursday 7:00 am – 8:00 pm | Friday – Saturday 9:00 am – 8:00 pm

Laguna Gloria

Experience art and nature in harmony at Laguna Gloria. Explore contemporary sculptures and installations, and enjoy the beauty of bluebonnets in this tranquil oasis, a world away from the city.

Where: 3809 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703
Operating Hours: Monday – Tuesday CLOSED | Wednesday – Sunday 9:00 am – 3:00 pm

North Austin Bluebonnets

Brushy Creek Lake Park

Brushy Creek Lake Park offers a diverse outdoor experience: a scenic lake, extensive trails, playgrounds, and beautiful bluebonnet fields. Enjoy nature’s beauty and family fun in one location.

Where: 3300 Brushy Creek Rd, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Operating Hours: Daily 5:30 am – 10:00 pm

Bull Creek District Park

Bull Creek District Park offers a blend of adventure and natural beauty. Hike scenic trails, mountain bike, play volleyball, swim in refreshing water holes, and discover vibrant bluebonnet displays in this popular Austin park.

Where: 6701 Lakewood Dr, Austin, TX 78731
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park

Walnut Creek Metropolitan Park offers a wealth of outdoor activities: hiking, swimming, biking, sports, and off-leash dog areas. And don’t forget the beautiful bluebonnet displays!

Where: 12138 N Lamar Blvd, Austin, TX 78753
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

Balcones District Park

Image credit: Balcones District Park

Balcones District Park offers family fun with a pool, playgrounds, and sports facilities, plus delightful bluebonnet sightings!

Where: 12017 Amherst Dr, Austin, TX 78759
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am- 10:00 pm

Great Hills Neighborhood Park

Tucked away in northwest Austin, Great Hills Neighborhood Park offers a beautiful hill country escape. Explore 80+ acres of natural beauty, hiking trails, and delightful bluebonnet displays, along with playgrounds and picnic areas.

Where: 10700 Floral Park Dr, Austin, TX 78759
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

Champion Park

Champion Park offers open space, dinosaur bone castings, and gorgeous bluebonnet displays! Enjoy playgrounds, fitness areas, picnic tables, and climbing boulders in a beautiful setting.

Where: 3830 Brushy Creek Rd, Cedar Park, TX 78613
Operating Hours: Saturday – Sunday CLOSED | Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park

Discover a pleasant park at Beverly S. Sheffield Northwest District Park. Enjoy a pool, basketball court, and picnic areas, along with nice bluebonnet sightings.

Where: 7000 Ardath St, Austin, TX 78757
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am- 10:00 pm

Mayfield Park

Mayfield Park: an oasis of historic gardens, peacocks, and bluebonnets. Escape the city and discover towering palms, lush greenery, and vibrant wildflowers, all within a tranquil rock-walled sanctuary.

Where: 3505 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

Bluebonnet Austin – South

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

For the ultimate bluebonnet experience, head to the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. Conveniently located near Austin, this center offers labeled displays, abundant photo opportunities, and a comprehensive introduction to Texas wildflowers.

Where: 4801 La Crosse Ave, Austin, TX 78739
Operating Hours: Daily 9:00 am – 4:00 pm

Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park

Discover a park with something for everyone at Mary Moore Searight Metropolitan Park. Enjoy trails, sports, fishing, disc golf, and lovely bluebonnet sightings.

Where: 907 W Slaughter Ln, Austin, TX 78748
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

St. Edward’s University

Image credit: St. Edward’s University

Explore St. Edward’s University, a campus with inviting walking trails and lovely bluebonnet sightings. Enjoy the natural beauty and tranquil atmosphere.

Where: 3001 S Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78704
Operating Hours: Saturday – Sunday CLOSED | Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

James A. Garrison District Park

Relax and play at James A. Garrison District Park. Enjoy the pool, playgrounds, and sports facilities, all while spotting beautiful bluebonnets.

Where: 6001 Menchaca Rd, Austin, TX 78745
Operating Hours: Daily 8:00 am- 9:00 pm

McKinney Falls State Park

Experience the beauty of McKinney Falls State Park. Hike trails, swim in creek pools, explore historic sites, and find stunning bluebonnet fields, all within Austin’s city limits.

Where: 5808 McKinney Falls Pkwy, Austin, TX 78744
Operating Hours: Daily 8:00 am – 10:00 pm

Zilker Botanical Garden

Interconnected themed gardens, including the Japanese Garden and Prehistoric Garden, are linked by accessible paths at Zilker Botanical Garden. Don’t miss the stunning bluebonnet displays in spring.

Where: 2220 Barton Springs Rd, Austin, TX 78746
Operating Hours: Daily 9:00 am – 5:00 pm

East Austin Bluebonnets

Mueller Lake Park

Image credit: Mueller Austin

With ample parkland, all residents in the Mueller neighborhood live within 600 feet of green space. Open to the public, this park hosts community events and is a prime spot for Austin’s bluebonnet season.

Where: 4550 Mueller Blvd, Austin, TX 78723
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

Roy G. Guerrero Colarado River Metro Park

Enjoy strolls along well-maintained trails, relax in picturesque picnic areas, and take advantage of the park’s convenient river access. Notably, the park is also renowned for its beautiful displays of bluebonnets during their blooming season.

Where: 400 Grove Blvd, Austin, TX 78741
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

Rosewood Neighborhood Park

Rosewood Neighborhood Park offers a variety of amenities, including a swimming pool, basketball court, and picnic areas. During bluebonnet season, visitors can also enjoy scattered displays of the iconic Texas wildflowers.

Where: 2300 Rosewood Ave, Austin, TX 78702
Operating Hours: Daily 7:00 am – 9:00 pm

Boggy Creek Greenbelt

Explore the Boggy Creek Greenbelt, a haven for outdoor enthusiasts. Enjoy hiking along its trails, discover the tranquil beauty of the creek, and admire the springtime bloom of bluebonnets.

Where: 1114 Nile St, Austin, TX 78702
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

Bluebonnets in West Austin

West Basin Wilderness Preserve

A partnership between Travis County and St. Edward’s University safeguards 227 acres of stunning Hill Country terrain at Wild Basin Wilderness Preserve, a key component of the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve. Explore 2.5 miles of trails, engage with the Wild Basin Creative Research Center, and experience the seasonal spectacle of blooming bluebonnets!

Where: 805 N Capital of Texas Hwy, Austin, TX 78746
Operating Hours: Monday – Friday 7:00 am – 5:30 pm | Saturday – Sunday 7:30 am – 5:30 pm

Commons Ford Ranch Metropolitan Park

The park’s hiking trails wind through three distinct areas—prairie, canyon, and chaparral—providing varied scenery. In springtime, the park comes alive with a colorful array of wildflowers, most notably the iconic Texas bluebonnets.

Where: 614 N Commons Ford Rd, Austin, TX 78733
Operating Hours: Daily 5:00 am – 10:00 pm

Emma Long Metropolitan Park

Emma Long Metropolitan Park provides open spaces, campsites, boat ramps, reservable picnic areas, and a beach entry swimming area. Bluebonnets also grow within the park during their blooming season.

Where: 1600 City Park Rd, Austin, TX 78730
Operating Hours: Daily 7:00 am – 10:00 pm

Looking for more? See the upcoming Weekend Events in Austin.

Lacey is a freelancer and Austin local who’s always on the hunt for new restaurants to try, fun activities to do, and local events to attend. She loves sharing her discoveries with others through her writing and hopes her work encourages both visitors and locals to be active in the community. When she’s not writing, you can find her exploring one of the city’s many hiking trails with her Blue Heeler, Oreo, getting lost in a good book, or dancing the night away to some house or techno beats at one of her favorite rave spots.

Austin, TX

Final Public Input Meetings on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update Next Week

Published

1 day ago

April 3, 2026

Press Room

Final Public Input Meetings on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan Update Next Week

The Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition is hosting a last round of public input meetings on the Community Wildfire Protection Plan, which is updated every 10 years.

The City of Austin released a press release about the final two meetings on Thursday. According to the release, the meetings are intended to provide an overview of the project, hear from subject matter experts, and capture public comments for incorporation into the plan.

Meeting Schedule

April 8, 6-8 p.m.; Del Valle Early College High School Cafeteria, 4715 Ross Rd.

April 9, 6-8 p.m.; St. Luke’s on the Lake Episcopal Church; 5600 RR 620 N.

The coalition asks that residents RSVP to the meetings online and take this public survey to provide information to the coalition as it updates the plan. Anyone may take the survey, but the coalition asks individuals who plan to attend one of the sessions to fill it out beforehand.

The Community Wildfire Protection Plan identifies areas of wildfire risk, prioritizes investments for mitigation funding, and provides recommendations for hazardous fuels reduction and homeowner risk reduction practices.

Additionally, the plan offers policymakers guidance on wildfire response capabilities and evacuation planning frameworks. The Austin-Travis County Wildfire Coalition updates the plan every decade to ensure it reflects current risk conditions, data, and community priorities.

Members of the coalition include the City of Austin, Austin 3-1-1, Austin Water, Austin Fire Department’s Wildfire Division, the Lower Colorado River Authority, Austin Energy, the city’s Homeland Security and Emergency Management division, and more.

Learn more about the coalition at its website here. And stay updated on the CWPP process as it unfolds here.

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