More than three decades after the horrific murders of four teenage girls in an Austin, Texas, frozen yogurt shop, the case is experiencing a resurgence of attention, fueled by a recently aired documentary. The chilling details of the crime, coupled with the enduring quest for justice, have once again captured the public's interest and reignited hope for a resolution.
The HBO docuseries, a four-part exploration of the case, delves into the tragic events of December 6, 1991, when the bodies of Jennifer Harbison, 17, Sarah Harbison, 15, Eliza Thomas, 17, and Amy Ayers, 13, were discovered inside the "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt!" shop. The girls had been bound, gagged, and brutally shot in the head, leaving the community reeling in shock and grief.
Now, family members of the victims are reporting a surge of new tips and information, attributed to the widespread reach and impact of the documentary. This renewed interest offers a glimmer of hope that after years of unanswered questions, someone may finally come forward with crucial information that could lead to the identification and apprehension of the perpetrators.
Angie Ayers, the sister-in-law of Amy Ayers, one of the victims, expressed her renewed optimism. "Personally, I have received information and some tips which I have passed on to the police department," she stated. "I would imagine that there may be some more information coming our way."
The documentary's broad reach has created "more opportunities for people to get in touch with us," Angie explained. "It has given us more hope than before that someone may be able to step up, be a witness, and give us information that we didn't have before." This renewed hope is a testament to the power of media and public awareness in unsolved cases.
Amy's brother, Shawn Ayers, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the family's unwavering commitment to finding justice. "Someone knows something," he asserted. "We will not stop fighting until we have answers. We have four girls depending on us to do the right thing."
The brutal nature of the crime and the youth of the victims have made the "I Can't Believe It's Yogurt!" murders a haunting chapter in Austin's history. The fact that the case remains unsolved after so many years has only deepened the sense of frustration and injustice.
Shawn Ayers vividly recalled the day he learned of his sister's murder. He was 19 years old when his parents received the devastating news at 5:30 am. "You go through it all," he recounted, "my first reaction was shock, and then I went numb. Then I went to anger, which stays around until today, the disbelief, the denial of it all."
The emotional toll of the tragedy is evident in Shawn's poignant description of the aftermath. "I would walk past Amy's room to get to mine, I would look in and notice she wasn't there," he shared. "You would walk past and realize she wasn't there, then you'd go to the living room, see my parents, and people would start coming in. Then you realized it was all real and you weren't dreaming."
In the years following the murders, the investigation has taken numerous twists and turns. In 1999, four men – Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Maurice Pierce, and Forrest Welborn – were arrested and charged in connection with the crime.
However, charges against Pierce and Welborn were eventually dropped due to insufficient evidence. Springsteen and Scott were convicted and sentenced, but their convictions were later overturned in 2006 due to concerns about coerced confessions and a lack of physical evidence linking them to the crime.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturned Springsteen's conviction due to a Sixth Amendment violation involving the use of a co-defendant’s statements during the trial. Scott’s conviction was also later overturned for similar reasons.
Subsequent DNA testing on evidence from the crime scene revealed an unidentified male DNA profile that did not match any of the four original suspects. This discovery further complicated the investigation and raised new questions about the identity of the perpetrator(s).
In light of these developments, Travis County prosecutors dismissed all charges against Springsteen and Scott, and both men were released from prison after spending years behind bars.
Despite advancements in DNA testing technology, the unidentified male DNA profile remains a crucial, yet unsolved, mystery in the case.
Currently, Austin police are employing advanced forensic genealogy techniques to attempt to identify the unknown male DNA. This approach involves using family DNA databases to trace potential relatives of the individual who left the DNA at the crime scene.
Shawn Ayers expressed his frustration and disappointment with the justice system's handling of the case. "When the District Attorney had to release them on a federal technicality, it was like the justice system failed us and the girls," he lamented. "It was another heart-wrenching issue that has been associated with the case. It ripped another layer off the wound."
"All we have ever wanted was truth and justice," Shawn emphasized. "We want the evil monsters that are responsible, not anyone else."
Angie Ayers affirmed the family's ongoing commitment to seeking justice, stating, "Unfortunately, 33 years later, we are still trying to figure out who did this. We are very much in touch with the police. When I started this, I did not know what I was going. But I am determined to get answers, and I will not stop until we get them."
She added, "We are not going to give up, and we will continue to be a thorn in the police department's side."
Through their tireless advocacy, Angie and Shawn played a role in establishing the Attorney General's cold case and missing persons unit in Austin. This unit is dedicated to pursuing all leads and evidence in unsolved cold case investigations.
Furthermore, Shawn and Angie supported the 2021 Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act, which grants families of federal murder victims the right to request a case review after all leads have been exhausted. While this act may not directly benefit their own case, it will provide assistance to numerous other families seeking justice for their loved ones.
"Even though we have experienced the greatest loss and heartache," Angie reflected, "we helped start the Cold Case Unit, to try and help other families and victims get cases solved. We did that, which led us to get the Homicide Victims' Families Rights Act passed as federal law. It doesn't help our case, but it will help so many others." The family's dedication to seeking justice extends beyond their own tragedy, encompassing a desire to support other victims and families affected by unsolved crimes.