In a significant development, Dan Jackson, the head of Austin’s unsolved homicide unit, has identified a suspected serial killer in the infamous yogurt shop murders that occurred in 1991. The tragic case involved the deaths of four teenage girls and had remained unsolved for over three decades, raising numerous questions in the Austin community.
Background of the Yogurt Shop Murders
On December 6, 1991, four teenage girls were killed in the “I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt” shop in Austin, Texas. The victims were Eliza Thomas and Jennifer Harbison, both 17, along with Jennifer’s 15-year-old sister Sarah and her 13-year-old friend Amy Ayers. An unknown assailant entered the shop, tied the girls with their clothing, and tragically shot them execution-style. Evidence of sexual assault was found on three of the four girls, but much physical evidence was lost due to a fire deliberately set in the shop.
The Investigation Journey
Initial investigations yielded little success, primarily due to limited forensic capabilities in the early 1990s. In subsequent years, DNA advancements showed promise, but many leads went cold. In 1999, four teenage boys were wrongfully implicated. They initially confessed but later retracted their statements. With the emergence of DNA evidence, they were exonerated in 2009.
Jackson took on the case in 2022, feeling a personal connection to the tragedy as he had been aware of it since childhood. His dedication to finding justice continued even after he was shot in the line of duty during a patrol on August 6, 2023.
Key Breakthroughs in the Case
Significant progress was made in 2023. Jackson’s efforts led to the re-evaluation of the only physical evidence from the crime scene—a spent .380 caliber bullet casing. A submission to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network resulted in a hit, linking the casing to a 1998 unsolved murder in Kentucky.
On August 22, 2023, a South Carolina lab confirmed a match between an Y-STR DNA profile extracted from a murder case and the DNA associated with the yogurt shop murders. This profile led to Robert Eugene Brashers, a serial killer who died in a police standoff in 1999. He was linked to multiple homicides and assaults across several states.
Implications of the Findings
The discovery effectively exonerated the four boys wrongfully accused in the 1990s and pointed towards Brashers as the likely perpetrator. Travis County District Attorney Jose Garza emphasized that the overwhelming evidence pointed to Brashers’ guilt while affirming the need for ongoing investigations.
Statistics indicate a 2.5 million to 1 chance that the DNA found under Amy’s fingernails belonged to Brashers, connecting him directly to the crime. Jackson has urged law enforcement officials across the nation to look into similar unsolved cases from the same period, especially those involving a .380 caliber weapon.
Community Response and Future Actions
The local community has shown resilience in the face of these long-standing tragedies. Families of the victims, including Amy Ayers’ family, expressed gratitude to Jackson and his team. They are now looking to support other families dealing with unsolved homicides, emphasizing a shared commitment to bringing closure to similar cases.
This breakthrough serves not only as a pivotal moment in Austin’s history but also underscores the importance of advancements in forensic science and collective efforts in cold case investigations.
