Austin’s infamous Yogurt Shop Murders appear to have finally been solved after 34 years, as authorities announced a major breakthrough connecting convicted killer Robert Eugene Brashers to the brutal slaying of four teenage girls in 1991.

The case, which has haunted Texas’ capital for decades, is now one step closer to closure thanks to advances in DNA technology.

Breakthrough in a Cold Case

On September 26, Austin police revealed that DNA evidence identified Robert Eugene Brashers as the suspect responsible for the murders of Amy Ayers (13), Eliza Thomas (17), Jennifer Harbison (17), and Sarah Harbison (15). The girls were killed in a north Austin yogurt shop, a crime that shocked the city and became one of Texas’ most notorious unsolved murders.

Authorities reportedly matched Brashers’ DNA under Ayers’ fingernails, finally tying him to the scene. CBS News reported that the firearm Brashers used to end his life during a 1999 standoff with police may also be linked to a bullet casing recovered inside the shop.

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A Violent History Across States

Brasher’s criminal past stretched across the U.S. Between 1990 and 1998, he was linked to murders in South Carolina and Missouri, the rape of a 14-year-old girl in Tennessee, and an attempted murder in Florida. His crime spree began in 1985, when he shot Michelle Wilkerson in Florida; she survived and identified him, leading to his conviction.

Although sentenced to 12 years, Brashers was released after only three, a decision many now question. X user Lydia Rodarte Quayle posted, “This piece of s** was catch-and-release from Florida two years before the Yogurt Shop Murders. If he had served his time, those girls would be alive.”*

Wrongful Convictions Overturned

For years, investigators believed Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott were responsible for the murders. Both were convicted in 2001, but new DNA evidence later cleared them. Their convictions were overturned in 2006, and Scott—once sentenced to death—was officially freed in 2009.

Redditor Jameson Tee reacted to the new revelation, saying, “I am glad that their remaining family members have some answers, and that the men who were wrongfully convicted have their names irrefutably cleared.”

Unanswered Questions Remain

While Brashers’ identification has brought relief, some still question whether he acted alone. “I guess my big question is did he do it alone? There were two guns used in the crime,” one Redditor wrote. Another user added, “This case has been botched so many times already. I really really hope they’re not closing it prematurely.”

True Crime Spotlight

The timing of the breakthrough coincides with renewed public attention. A24’s docuseries, The Yogurt Shop Murders, debuted at the South by Southwest Film & TV Festival earlier this year. HBO also has a true crime treatment of the case in the works, underscoring the lasting fascination with this tragedy.