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The Yogurt Shop Murders: A Case That Still Haunts Austin
CASE SOLVED
Austin police explain how DNA helped analysis helped solve the 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders
On the night of December 6, 1991, Austin police responded to a fire at “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” on West Anderson Lane. Inside, they discovered a horrific scene: four teenage girls — Amy Ayers, Eliza Thomas, and sisters Sarah and Jennifer Harbison — bound, gagged, and murdered.
This case was unlike anything local law enforcement had seen before. It shocked a city that had once been considered relatively safe and has remained one of Austin’s most infamous unsolved crimes.
Over three decades later, the case is being revisited in The Yogurt Shop Murders, a documentary series directed by Margaret Brown. Using archival footage and recent interviews with investigators and families, the series not only explores the facts of the case but also the emotional toll it has taken on loved ones and the broader community.
Brown explains that while the project began as a glimpse into the 1990s — a time captured through old footage and cultural snapshots — her approach shifted after meeting the victims’ families. The documentary became less about nostalgia and more about the universal experience of grief, trauma, and resilience.
In 1999, four men were charged in connection with the crime. Two were convicted, but their convictions were later overturned due to prosecutorial mistakes. The remaining two men were never tried, and the case remains unsolved to this day.
The story continues to raise difficult questions: How can a crime this brutal remain unresolved for so long? What lessons can be learned about justice, accountability, and healing for victims’ families?
At Austin Crime Stoppers, we are reminded that behind every case are real people who live with unanswered questions and pain that never fully goes away. Sharing their stories helps keep attention on unsolved cases and strengthens the call for justice.
Reward & How to Support
Austin Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward for tips that lead to resolving this case.
We would like to raise the reward amount, but as a nonprofit organization, we rely on donations from local businesses and community members to make that possible. Your contributions help us increase reward amounts and receive more tips that bring criminals to justice.