AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — DNA evidence has unveiled Robert Eugene Brashers as a new suspect in the 1991 murders of four teenage girls at a yogurt shop in Austin, Texas. Investigators announced this development on Friday, attributing the breakthrough to the analysis of DNA linking Brashers to the crime, which had previously led to several arrests and convoluted trials.
The ongoing investigation, brought back into the public spotlight with the recent release of HBO's documentary series The Yogurt Shop Murders, has kept the case open as authorities prepare for a detailed press conference scheduled for Monday. Austin police emphasized their unwavering commitment to resolving this case, stating, Our team never gave up working this case.
The tragic incident claimed the lives of Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15. The four girls were sadly bound, gagged, and shot at the "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt" establishment, which was subsequently set ablaze.
Over the years, the case stunned the city of Austin and prompted extensive investigative efforts, as detectives sifted through thousands of leads, false confessions, and the challenges posed by charred evidence. Amid this turmoil, four men were arrested in 1999, with two young suspects initially confessing but later recanting their statements, claiming coercion by investigators.
Following years of legal battles, their convictions were overturned, and the case was reignited when new DNA testing pointed to a different male suspect in 2009. Authorities in Missouri connected Brashers to other homicides through DNA, bringing this cold case back into focus.
Tragically, Brashers died in 1999 during a police standoff, meaning the investigation continues without his capture. His death and the complexities surrounding this case leave many unanswered questions as Austin police strive for justice for the victims and their families.
The ongoing investigation, brought back into the public spotlight with the recent release of HBO's documentary series The Yogurt Shop Murders, has kept the case open as authorities prepare for a detailed press conference scheduled for Monday. Austin police emphasized their unwavering commitment to resolving this case, stating, Our team never gave up working this case.
The tragic incident claimed the lives of Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15. The four girls were sadly bound, gagged, and shot at the "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt" establishment, which was subsequently set ablaze.
Over the years, the case stunned the city of Austin and prompted extensive investigative efforts, as detectives sifted through thousands of leads, false confessions, and the challenges posed by charred evidence. Amid this turmoil, four men were arrested in 1999, with two young suspects initially confessing but later recanting their statements, claiming coercion by investigators.
Following years of legal battles, their convictions were overturned, and the case was reignited when new DNA testing pointed to a different male suspect in 2009. Authorities in Missouri connected Brashers to other homicides through DNA, bringing this cold case back into focus.
Tragically, Brashers died in 1999 during a police standoff, meaning the investigation continues without his capture. His death and the complexities surrounding this case leave many unanswered questions as Austin police strive for justice for the victims and their families.
