The Yogurt Shop Murders
Austin · Texas · United States · 1991
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Content note — The public record for this case describes violence in specific detail. This case involves an allegation or finding of sexual assault. A victim named in this case was a minor at the time.
On 6 Dec 1991, Austin police saw a fire shortly before midnight at an I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt! shop. Firefighters found Eliza Thomas (17), Jennifer Harbison (17), Sarah Harbison (15) and Amy Ayers (13) inside; Jennifer and Eliza worked there, and Sarah and Amy were there as the shop closed. The investigation led to arrests and convictions of Michael Scott and Robert Springsteen, but those convictions were overturned and the case ended without a prosecution. Austin police later linked DNA from the killings to Robert Eugene Brashers, who died in 1999 and was never charged; that is a police finding, not a conviction. On 19 Feb 2026, a judge declared the four accused men innocent.
At a glance
Michael James Scott
Four men were charged with capital murder; those charges were later dismissed. A judge declared them innocent on 19 Feb 2026. Robert Eugene Brashers was never charged.
No upcoming court dates are scheduled — the latest recorded proceedings appear under Court dates.
Timeline· 9 entries
A dated record of reported developments and proceedings.
6 Dec 1991 · Friday
Death reported, investigation event
6 Oct 1999 · Wednesday
Arrest, court event
24 Mar 2005 · Thursday
Appeal, court event
Travis County, TexasTexas Third Court of Appeals
24 May 2006 · Wednesday
Appeal, court event
6 Jun 2007 · Wednesday
Appeal, court event
26 Sep 2025 · Friday
Update, investigation event
11 Dec 2025 · Thursday
Motion filed, court event
District attorney files 3.09 notice of exculpatory evidence and motion for appointment of counsel
Travis County, TexasTravis County District Attorney
19 Feb 2026 · Thursday
Exoneration, court event
28 May 2026 · Thursday
Update, investigation event
Austin City Council approves $35 million settlement with previously accused men
Coverage· 3 entries · 5 episodes
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2016
Provides a case-focused account of the 6 Dec 1991 killings and the investigation’s long arc, including the harm caused by the wrongful convictions.
The Murder Sheet
Podcast · 4 episodes about this case
4 Jun 2026
4 Jun 2026Examines the forensic-DNA work behind APD’s 26 Sep 2025 identification of Robert Eugene Brashers, with expert context on genetic evidence.
7 May 2026
7 May 2026Provides a first-person account from a DNA Labs International expert about the testing behind the 26 Sep 2025 suspect identification.
29 Sep 2025
29 Sep 2025Follows the APD press conference announcing the 26 Sep 2025 DNA-linked suspect identification and the case’s no-prosecution status.
29 Sep 2025
29 Sep 2025Profiles the deceased, never-charged suspect named by APD on 26 Sep 2025 and distinguishes a DNA link from a conviction.
28 Oct 2025
Podcast episodeThe Murder Sheet28 Oct 2025Explains genetic-genealogy methods and investigative context relevant to APD’s 26 Sep 2025 identification of Brashers.
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