Introduction
Four teenage girls—Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, Eliza Thomas, and Amy Ayers—were found bound and shot inside an Austin yogurt shop on December 6, 1991. The shop had been set on fire, destroying precious trace evidence and plunging the city into shock. More than three decades later, a retired lead investigator says he “knows who did this”—even if the name still eludes him. This is the tangled story of grief, confessions, DNA surprises, and a relentless hunt for justice.
Note: This report is based on interview footage and contemporaneous case details recounted by former Austin PD Detective John (Jon) Jones and others.
The Night That Shattered Austin (Dec. 6, 1991)
Responding to a late-night call about a fire on 2900 W. Anderson, first responders discovered something far worse: four victims, gagged, tied with their own clothing, and shot in the head. Investigators would later determine at least one girl was sexually assaulted. Smoke, soot, and water complicated scene processing; yet ballistic evidence revealed two firearms were used—.380 and .22 caliber—suggesting at least two offenders.
The Victims
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Jennifer Harbison (17) – hardworking senior, closing shift
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Sarah Harbison (15) – freshman, active in sports and clubs
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Eliza Thomas (17) – animal lover, planned livestock competitions
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Amy Ayers (13) – “a daddy’s girl,” dreamed of becoming a veterinarian
The murders decimated families and stunned Austin. Billboards went up. The city demanded answers.
A Massive, Multi-Agency Investigation
From the outset, Austin PD brought in ATF, the FBI, and Texas DPS. Leads spanned the spectrum—from family acquaintances to drifters. Early on, detectives pushed a nationwide gun trace. Still, the fire had erased much.
Early Suspects & False Leads
Maurice Pierce, stopped with a .22 at a nearby mall eight days after the murders, claimed three acquaintances—Forrest/Forest Welborn(e), Michael Scott, and Robert Springsteen—were involved. But when wired up to confront Forrest, the story fell apart.
Other angles—occult rumors, cemetery raids, a sketch of a man seen in a car outside the shop, and three suspects in a separate Austin sexual assault—all flared and fizzled. Multiple confessions surfaced over the years—six written by unrelated claimants—each collapsing under contradictions.
The 1999 Breaking Point: Four Arrests
Nearly eight years later, Austin PD arrested Pierce, Welborn, Scott, and Springsteen. There was no new physical evidence; the linchpin was two new confessions—from Michael Scott and Robert Springsteen. Scott described a planned robbery that escalated. Springsteen, after prolonged interrogation, admitted rape and murder—a confession his defense later called coerced.
Trials, Convictions… and a Constitutional Reversal
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2001: Springsteen convicted of capital murder, death row.
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2002: Scott convicted, life sentence.
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2009: Both convictions overturned. Why? The Sixth Amendment confrontation clause: juries heard each man’s confession against the other, without cross-examination. Relief for defendants; devastation for families.
The DNA Twist That Changed Everything
Prosecutors pursued Y-STR testing (male-only DNA) on swabs from the sexually assaulted victim. The result? A partial male profile that did not match Springsteen, Scott, or the other two men. If Springsteen’s confession of rape were true, the Y-STR should have matched. It didn’t.
Later, in 2017, a public database search suggested a lead—but the sample had been uploaded anonymously by the FBI (a federal offender/detainee, no name). After additional Y-STR markers were developed in 2020, the supposed “match” collapsed—conclusively not the same man. The case returned to square one, with one crucial fact intact: the unknown male DNA exists.
Investigators maintain that the Y-STR profile is pivotal and could one day identify a perpetrator or direct male relative.
Where the Case Stands—and the “Unnamed” Suspect
The retired lead detective says he knows the offender, even if he “doesn’t know his name.” Families wait. Technology improves. The Y-STR profile remains the strongest forensic thread—a thread that could tie to a suspect when genealogical methods or database policies finally align.
Human Aftermath: Trauma, Therapy, and Memory
Survivors and loved ones—like Sonora Thomas—carry the invisible injuries of that night. Panic attacks, physical pain, and the long work of therapy mark the years. Rituals—an empty chair at a wedding, a flower, a name spoken aloud—keep memories alive. Former Detective Jones himself struggles with PTSD, still keeping the green-and-white shirt he vowed to wear again only when the case is solved.
Condensed Timeline
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Dec 6, 1991: Fire call reveals quadruple homicide at Austin yogurt shop
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Dec 1991: Ballistics: .380 and .22 used; multiple early suspects, false confessions
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1992–1996: Leads across states and into Mexico; confessions conflict with scene evidence
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Oct 1999: Arrests of Pierce, Welborn, Scott, Springsteen
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2001–2002: Springsteen (death), Scott (life) convicted
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2009: Convictions overturned on confrontation grounds; Y-STR testing finds unknown male DNA; charges against the two are dropped (not exonerated)
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2017–2020: Database lead excluded after expanded markers; unknown male DNA remains the key
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Who were the victims in the Austin yogurt shop murders?
Jennifer (17) and Sarah Harbison (15), Eliza Thomas (17), and Amy Ayers (13).
How many perpetrators were there?
Ballistics indicate at least two weapons—suggesting two or more offenders.
Why were convictions overturned?
Because juries heard each defendant’s confession against the other without cross-examination—violating the Sixth Amendment.
What does the Y-STR DNA mean?
It’s a male-lineage DNA profile from the crime; it didn’t match the four men previously charged. Identifying its source could solve the case.
Is there a suspect now?
A retired investigator says he knows the offender, but a definitive name and match remain elusive pending further DNA breakthroughs.
Call for Information
If you lived near W. Anderson Lane in 1991, remember seeing two men in fatigues near closing time, or have relevant family DNA in public genealogy databases, contact Austin Police Department Cold Case Unit. Even a small detail could matter.
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