Almost 34 years after his sister was murdered in the 1991 yogurt shop massacre in Austin, Texas, Shawn Ayers and his wife, Angie, are embarking on a nationwide initiative to address cold cases, hoping to unearth answers about the horrific event and any potential accomplices involved.
Shawn, whose sister Amy was one of the four young victims, has partnered with former prosecutors Mindy Montford and Anne Marie Schubert to create the National Cold Case Center. Their aim is to support unsolved homicide investigations, train law enforcement professionals, and assist families affected by these tragic events.
The couple’s journey stemmed from their own long quest for justice for Amy, which inspired them to establish a nonprofit organization focused on these issues.
Angie shared their motivation, stating, “What we’ve experienced and what we’ve seen — it’s hard not to want to help others.” They had previously contemplated launching a nonprofit as far back as years ago.
The Austin yogurt shop murders
The tragic incident on December 6, 1991, claimed the lives of Amy and three other girls: 17-year-olds Jennifer Harbison and Eliza Thomas, and 15-year-old Sarah Harbison. On that fateful night, Jennifer and Eliza were closing up the yogurt shop while Sarah and Amy waited for them to finish so they could head to a sleepover.
Just before midnight, a fire broke out at the yogurt shop, complicating the investigation. The flames and subsequent water from the sprinklers marred the crime scene and washed away critical evidence, according to FBI files.
Inside, authorities found Sarah, Eliza, and Jennifer stacked together in the storage room, bound and gagged with their own clothing, and each had been shot in the back of the head with .22-caliber bullets. Amy was discovered in a separate location with significant injuries, including a ligature around her neck and burns covering a large portion of her body.
Killer identified
For decades, the quest for justice saw false confessions and wrongful convictions before DNA and ballistics evidence ultimately identified Robert Eugene Brashers as the perpetrator in September 2025. Tragically, Brashers died by suicide during a standoff with police in 1999, leaving families with unresolved questions.
Despite the identification of Brashers, the Ayers family still grapples with uncertainty regarding the possibility of an accomplice. Angie expressed her doubts, suggesting that the methods used in the yogurt shop murders did not align with those seen in Brashers’ other cases, hinting at the possibility of additional suspects.
Over the years, police investigations had mistakenly focused on four local teens who later recanted their confessions, claiming they were coerced into false admissions. They were eventually exonerated after DNA testing ruled them out as suspects. The pain and fallout from these wrongful accusations left deep scars, particularly for those wrongly imprisoned.
Settlement
Following the confirmation of Brashers’ guilt, a Travis County judge declared the falsely accused individuals innocent, leading to a $35 million settlement approved by the Austin City Council. While this acknowledgment was a vital step, it remains a bitter reminder of the years lost due to wrongful convictions.
Both Angie and Shawn used their painful experiences to fuel their new nonprofit, which aims to provide support to others navigating similar harrowing journeys. They hope to improve the investigatory processes surrounding cold cases, assist in data collection, and create a network of support for families.
As they delve into their work, they’ve noticed a pressing need for funding. “It’s crucial for us to get things rolling,” Shawn emphasized. Their dedication stems not just from personal loss but from a commitment to ensuring that others don’t endure the same heartache without support.
The Ayers couple reflects on their unique position, knowing that ongoing efforts might also help in identifying killers who might be living unnoticed in communities today. “You can pass by a killer and not even know it,” Shawn remarked somberly, underscoring the urgency of their mission.
