Austin Yogurt Shop Murders: Cold Case Solved Decades Later

Unsolved Crime and Community Grief

• 💔 For decades, the community remembered the four teenage girls – Amy Ayes, Eliza Thomas, Jennifer Harbison, and Sarah Harbison – who were murdered.
• 📌 Ryan Howard, a former classmate and friend, kept a yearbook pin with the words "We will not forget," symbolizing the lasting impact of their loss.
• 💡 The girls, known for their "spunky personalities" and "country strong" demeanor, were active in the Future Farmers of America program.

The Tragic Event of December 6, 1991

• 🕯️ On this date, the four teenagers were tied up, shot, and burned at an "I can't believe it's yogurt" shop in North Austin.
• 🔥 The building was set on fire, which tragically destroyed potential forensic evidence, hindering the initial investigation.
• 😥 The thought of the girls' fear and suffering during their final moments deeply affected those who knew them.

Decades of Waiting for Closure

• ⚖️ In 1999, four men were arrested and charged with capital murder, offering a glimmer of hope for closure.
• 🔄 However, two of those cases were overturned, and the other two never went to trial, leaving families and friends back at "step one."

DNA Testing Solves the Case

• 🧬 Thanks to advancements in DNA testing, Austin police have identified the suspect in the murders as Robert Eugene Brashers.
• 💀 Brashers died by suicide in 1999, the same year he was linked to the crime.
• 🔗 His DNA is also connected to other serious crimes, including rape and murder.
• 😮 Howard expressed a mixture of shock and relief upon hearing the news, noting how the crime had previously "shook the whole community."
• 🌟 The community continues to keep the memories of the four girls close, honoring their spirit and the commitment to never forget.