Who Was Robert Eugene Brashers? Yogurt Shop Murder Case Solved After 34 Years, All About The Suspect

The Yogurt Shop Murders had shocked everyone across the country in 1991 with the death of four girls from ages thirteen to seventeen. The families of Amy Ayers, Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison, and Eliza Thomas remained bereaved of answers on what exactly happened to their children on that fateful day on December 6, 1991, in Austin, Texas. However, now 34 years after the murders, authorities have claimed that they have solved the case and found the killer, but there's a catch. Read here to know all about the reported murderer. 

What is the Yogurt Shop Murder case? 

At night, on December 6, 1991, a patrolling police officer had noticed fire at a local 'I Can't Believe It's Yogurt!' shop. After the fire was extinguished, the bodies of four young girls were found in the shop. They were bound, gagged, shot in the head, and at least one of them had been sexually assaulted, as per the records. The shop was set on fire after the murders, as a result, the bodies were charred as well. The victims were 17-year-old Eliza Thomas and Jennifer Harbison, who worked at the shop, Jennifer's sister, Sarah and her friend, Amy Ayers. Sarah and Amy were aged 15 and 13 and were waiting for Jennifer to get a ride with her.

Two young boys were initially jailed for the Yogurt Shop Murders

Four teenage boys, Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Maurice Pierce, and Forrest Welborn, were said to be suspects of the crime. Scott and Springsteen were even jailed. However, they were freed after a DNA sample collected from one of the victims who was assaulted did not match any of them. 

Although Judge Mike Lynch, who ruled the case, and many other law enforcement authorities were confident that Scott and Springteen were in some way complicit since their statements had been incriminating, they had been let go since their DNA did not match that found at the crime scene. The judge also revealed that the identity of the man whose DNA was found was completely unknown to them. As a result, the Yoghurt Shop Murders remained a cold case, that is, until 2025. 

The Yogurt Shop Murders is solved? Everything to know about Robert Eugene Brashers

In Auguts 2025, Netflix released a true crime docu-series The Yogurt Shop Murders. The investigation and the chilling information provided on the gruesome crime is still fresh in the minds of many people who watched this popular series. Amid this, in a shocking turn of events, Austin, Texas, authorities have finally found the Yogurt Shop killer. As per the Homicide Victims' Families' Rights Act, cold cases are reopened and investigated through newer technologies to find out the culprits and bring justice to the victim's families. 

As a result of this law, advanced DNA testing linked the sample found at the crime scene to that of serial killer and rapist, Robert Eugene Brashers. However, Robert had died by suicide in 1999. Interestingly, during his lifetime, Robert wasn't connected to any of his crimes. It was years after his death that, through advanced DNA testing, Robert Brashers was linked to at least seven crimes. 

How did Robert Brashers die? 

Robert Brashers died by suicide in a crime unrelated to any of the gruesome murders and sexual assaults he had carried out. While staying at a motel with his family in 1999, Robert had been accused of stealing a car. When the police broke down the doors to arrest him, Robert took his wife, daughter, and step-daughters as hostages. After negotiations, he let the hostages go but shot himself. It is also noteworthy that the bullet through which Robert Brashers took his life, the same bullet casings were found in the drains near where the Yogurt Shop Murders took place. 

May the souls of all victims rest in peace.

Also Read: 'The Yogurt Shop Murders' Review: Here Is What The Netizens Think Of The True 1991 Murder Docuseries

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