Who Murdered 4 Teens in a Yogurt Shop? Why the Haunting Case Went Cold

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On December 6, 1991, Jennifer Harbison and Eliza Thomas were both on duty at the I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! store located in Austin, Texas.

Amy Ayers and Sarah Harbison were at the shop waiting to catch a ride with Sarah’s older sister.

However, none of those individuals managed to return home, as tragic events unfolded. Upon receiving a report about a fire breaking out at the establishment around midnight, firefighters found the unfortunate remains of the four adolescent girls.

Exploring the haunting details of a still-unsolved crime, “The Yogurt Shop Murders” – debuting on HBO August 3 – delves into the investigation that eventually saw four individuals indicted for capital murder, eight years after the fact. The series also sheds light on why this case has yet to be fully resolved.

According to Margaret Brown, who is the series director, family members often said to her, “There’s no way to truly move on,” during their conversations. She emphasized that while you can adapt to it, the pain remains powerful.

Here’s what to know about the cold case that continues to haunt Austin:

Who were the victims of the 1991 yogurt shop murders?

Around 11:47 p.m. on December 6, 1991, a patrol officer observed flames coming from I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! in the northwest part of Austin. Upon entering, firefighters sadly discovered the charred remains of Jennifer Harbison, aged 17, her sister Sarah Harbison, who was only 15 years old, Eliza Thomas, also 17, and Amy Ayers, just 13 years of age.

Police said they believed the fire was purposely set to destroy evidence.

A few days following the incident, Robert Bayardo from Travis County Medical Examiner’s Office informed media outlets that the teenagers were unfortunately deceased prior to the fire ignition. Specifically, Amy suffered two gunshots, whereas each of the other girls sustained a single bullet wound at the back of their heads.

According to investigators, it was found that the main entrance was securely locked, whereas the back door was ajar and there were no indications of a break-in. Lt. Andrew Waters of the Austin Police Department previously stated, as reported by the Austin American-Statesman, that money was absent, leading him to suggest that robbery was the most plausible explanation for this situation.

However, he also mentioned, “There might be another explanation, and they might have tried to disguise it as a burglary.

Were there any suspects in the yogurt shop murders?

Eight days following the homicides, Maurice Pierce, aged 16, was apprehended at Northcross Mall, just a short distance from the crime scene, in possession of a .22-caliber revolver.

John Jones, a former detective who led the investigation, shared with 48 Hours in 2022 that Pierce admitted to police his firearm played a role in the incident at the yogurt shop and he drove an escape vehicle.

Jones stated that Pierce named Forrest Welborn, Michael Scott, and Robert Springsteen IV in the statement he made to the authorities.

However, the other three boys asserted their innocence, as per Jones’ explanation, and insufficient proof was available to bring forth charges.

During the initial stages of the probe, investigators spoke with countless individuals and compiled a substantial roster of potential culprits, reaching a peak of 342 suspects in one instance, when referring to Jones.

When did police first make arrests in the yogurt shop murder case?

Scott was re-interviewed by Austin cold case detectives in September 1999.

Initially, he claimed ignorance regarding the murders when questioned by the police. However, following a prolonged interrogation that his lawyers stated lasted around 20 hours over multiple days, he confessed to being involved. The authorities further declared that he implicated Pierce, Welborn, and Springsteen in the crime.

A few days after Springsteen’s arrest, it happened in West Virginia. At first, he claimed innocence, but eventually, during a recorded conversation with investigators, he admitted to sexually assaulting and shooting one of the girls.

Welborn and Pierce were arrested that October and all four were charged with capital murder.

At a recent press conference where he discussed a resolution in the case, Austin Mayor Kirk Watson stated, “On December 6, 1991, Austin as a whole experienced a loss of innocence. Today, we are reclaiming our sense of trust and certainty.

What happened to the yogurt shop murder suspects?

Springsteen and Scott claimed their confessions were obtained under duress, a claim disputed by the authorities, and both pleaded innocent during their court proceedings.

Initially, each man was tried independently for the murder of Ayers, which meant they could still potentially face charges for other murders if one or both were acquitted. However, ultimately, both individuals were declared guilty.

In my role as a lifestyle guide, allow me to rephrase that event in a more approachable manner. Back in 2001, Springsteen found himself facing the ultimate penalty – a death sentence. Conversely, Scott’s fate took a different turn the very next year, resulting in a life imprisonment verdict.

During the ballistics examination, it couldn’t be determined that Pierce’s .22 caliber gun was involved in the murders. He spent three years behind bars before his trial, continually asserting his innocence, and was eventually released in 2003, as prosecutors admitted they lacked sufficient evidence to convict him.

In 2000, no charges were brought against Welborn following two separate investigations, as he maintained his innocence, and the case against him was eventually dismissed.

In 2006, the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Springsteen’s conviction, stating that Scott’s testimony, which was admitted as evidence during Springsteen’s trial for accusations against him, had been used in violation of Springsteen’s Sixth Amendment right to cross-examine or challenge his accuser during the court proceedings.

In 2007, the appeal court overturned Scott’s conviction, as they found it inappropriate to play excerpts of Bruce Springsteen’s testimony during Scott’s trial.

In 2009, the two men originally on trial in Travis County were released due to new DNA tests from crime scene evidence that did not correspond with Springsteen, Scott, Welborn, or Pierce (who passed away in 2010), for whom they had initially planned a retrial.

Where does the yogurt murder shop case stand now?

The 1991 case remains open.

We’re holding out hope that advancements in DNA technology will occur soon, at which point we can re-submit the remaining evidence from the crime lab for additional testing,” said U.S. Representative Michael McCaul, whose district encompasses Austin, to 48 Hours in July 2025. He stressed that “the DNA is crucial.

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2025-08-02 15:17