HBO’s latest docuseries explores the impact of one of Texas’ most notorious unsolved cases: the murder of four girls at a yogurt shop in 1991.
The series features interviews with investigators, family of the victims, community members, and the media. As interest in the case renews, and forensic technology continues to develop, hope for justice is not lost.
The Yogurt Shop Murders
On the night of December 6, 1991, four teenage girls were inside a frozen yogurt chain restaurant in Austin. Amy Ayers, Eliza Thomas, and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison were waiting for two of the girls’ shifts to finish so they could all travel home together.
Just before closing, when Jennifer locked the door, a couple noticed two men still seated inside, acting “furtively”.
Less than an hour after the store closed, police noticed a fire blazing on the premises. Once they were able to go inside, police found the bodies of the four girls – each shot in the head execution-style.
Investigation
The organised and calculated nature of the crime suggested that multiple adults were responsible. Although a DNA fragment was recovered from the crime scene, it could not provide a reliable match, and investigators had to rely on other tactics.
Shortly after the investigation started, a 15-year-old boy was brought in for questioning after he was found in possession of a gun (which was not identified as the murder weapon).
Whilst he initially confessed to the yogurt shop murders and implicated three of his friends, investigators believed he was only cooperating to try and escape a weapons charge.
Several years later, a new investigator revisited the boy’s confession and decided to re-interview him and his friends. This time the boys – who were now in their 20s – were all charged with the crime.
Two were convicted – one of whom was sentenced to death. But errors in the prosecution’s case meant that the convictions were overturned.
While HBO’s series shines a light on the community’s continuing trauma and grief, the story is far from over.
Find out more about the yogurt shop murders on this episode of Generation Why.
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