Police in Austin, Texas, have announced a major breakthrough in the notorious "yogurt shop murders" of four girls. They say they have identified a suspect: A deceased serial killer named Robert Eugene Brashers.
"Austin Police have made a significant breakthrough in the 1991 I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt murder case and we have new information," an Austin police news release says.
"Our team never gave up working this case. For almost 34 years they have worked tirelessly and remained committed to solving this case for the families of Jennifer Harbison, Sarah Harbison, Eliza Thomas, and Amy Ayers, all innocent lives taken senselessly and far too soon," it adds.
"We have identified a suspect in these murders through a wide range of DNA testing. The suspect is Robert Eugene Brashers, who committed suicide in 1999. This remains an open and ongoing investigation."
"APD investigators have been in touch with the families. We ask for your patience as we continue this process and remain mindful of the many people whose lives have been deeply affected by this case," police wrote.
According to 48 Hours' correspondent Erin Moriarity, a retired investigator named John Jones worked on the case as an Austin police detective. He shed new light on the evidence that allegedly connects Brashers to the crime.
Brashers "is a serial killer and rapist who committed at least three murders between 1990 and 1998 in the states of South Carolina and Missouri," CBS News reported, noting that he died in 1999 "by suicide during a standoff with police."
Jones told Moriarty that the gun he used in 1999 is "consistent with a bullet casing found in a drain inside the yogurt shop."
The four girls were found "gagged, tied up with their own clothing, and shot in the head" inside the yogurt shop, CBS News reported.
According to KVUE-TV, DNA previously linked Brashers to the murders of Sherri Scherer and her 12-year-old daughter, Megan Scherer, in Portageville, Missouri.
He was also linked to the murder of 28-year-old Genevieve Zitricki in Greenville, South Carolina, the station reported.
Genealogical DNA testing was used to solve the yogurt shop murders case.
According to People, two other people, Michael Scott, Robert Springsteen, were convicted after confessing to the yogurt shop murders, but their convictions were overturned, and they were released in 2009 due to lack of evidence and recantations. It's not clear why Brashers was in Austin.