DNA evidence cracks cold case, connects dead suspect to murders of 4 teens at Austin yogurt shop
Share and Follow

NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!

Investigators have identified a suspect in a Texas quadruple cold case murder more than three decades old. 

Police in Austin said on Friday that they had linked Robert Eugene Brashers to the murders of four teen girls at a yogurt shop in 1991 through DNA. 

Brashers, who committed suicide in 1999, was also suspected of being a serial predator at the time, according to the Austin American-Statesman. 

He was convicted of attempted murder after shooting a woman in the head in 1985, and was sentenced to 12 years in prison. He was released in 1989, however, after only serving three years in prison, the Statesman reported. 

Robert Brashers mug shot

Police in Austin said on Friday that they had linked Robert Eugene Brashers to the murders of four teen girls at a yogurt shop in 1991.  (Missouri State Highway Patrol)

He fatally shot himself following a police standoff at a motel where he had been hiding with his wife, daughter and two stepdaughters, after releasing them from the motel. 

DNA evidence also linked Brashers after his death to three rapes and murders in Missouri and South Carolina – including a mother and daughter – and a rape in Tennessee. 

Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott, who were teenagers at the time of the murders, were charged and convicted of the killings in 2001 and 2002. 

Yourt shop murders location

The location where four girls were killed at a yogurt shop in 1991. (AP Photo/Paul J. Weber)

They were sentenced to death and life in prison respectively, but their convictions were overturned on appeal, including because no DNA evidence linked them to the crimes. 

What became known as the “Yogurt Shop Murders” remains infamous in Austin as one of its most violent cases, and is still open. HBO premiered a docuseries called “The Yogurt Shop Murders” last month about the killings. 

Amy Ayers, 13; Eliza Thomas, 17; and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, ages 17 and 15, were bound, gagged and shot in the head at the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” store where two of them worked. The building was then set on fire.

Victims' memorial

Tributes lay on a memorial Friday for four teenage girls who were killed in a yogurt shop in 1991 in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Paul J. Weber) (AP Photo/Paul J. Weber)

“Our team never gave up working this case,” Austin police said in a statement on Friday. 

The department has a news conference planned on Monday to discuss the new evidence in the case. 

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Share and Follow
You May Also Like
Ex-deputy admits to 'jokingly' shooting his best friend in the head

Former Deputy Claims ‘Prank Gone Wrong’: Shocking Confession of Shooting Best Friend

A former sheriff’s deputy from Florida has admitted guilt in the shooting…
Sad disappearance of '90s icon as Daily Mail reveals store card debt

90s Star Faces Financial Struggles Amid Store Card Debt Revelations

In the 1990s, Linda Fiorentino emerged as one of the most captivating…
MAGA civil war deepens as Tucker Carlson sits with Trump in DC

Tensions Escalate: Tucker Carlson Meets with Trump in DC Amid MAGA Rift

Tucker Carlson’s recent visit to the White House, where he met with…
Netanyahu rebukes Trump’s Gaza plan as Turkey, Qatar join governing board

Netanyahu Criticizes Trump’s Gaza Strategy as Turkey and Qatar Gain Influence in New Leadership Role

Tensions have escalated in Israel following President Trump’s proposal for a new…
How Mike Sullivan reacted to Letter 2.0 as Rangers struggle in first season

Mike Sullivan’s Bold Response to Letter 2.0 Amidst Rangers’ Challenging Debut Season

PHILADELPHIA – Upon stepping into his new role as head coach of…
Icicles hang from the roof of the US consulate in Nuuk, Greenland, on Friday, Jan. 16, 2026. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

US Congressional Delegation Aims to Reassure Denmark and Greenland Following Trump’s Remarks

A bipartisan U.S. congressional delegation visited Denmark on Saturday to reassure both…
St. John's surpass tough test in huge win over Villanova to claim No. 2 in Big East

St. John’s Triumphs Over Villanova: A Pivotal Win that Elevates Them to Big East’s No. 2 Spot

PHILADELPHIA — The journey to victory was a more gradual climb this…
Footage shows hunters from world's biggest uncontacted Amazon tribe

Rare Footage Reveals World’s Largest Uncontacted Amazon Tribe: A Glimpse into Their Untouched Way of Life

Remarkable new footage and photographs have emerged, showcasing the world’s largest uncontacted…