In Depth Coverage

Yogurt Shop Murders

December 6, 1991:
After responding to a fire at the I Cant Believe Its Yogurt shop on Anderson Lane, authorities find the bodies of four teenage girls "  Sarah Harbison, 15; Jennifer Harbison, 17; Eliza Thomas, 17 and Amy Ayers, 13. (pictured clockwise from upper left) They had been raped and murdered.

October 1999:
Police arrest four suspects in the murders -- Robert Springsteen (pictured below, far right), Michael Scott (middle), Maurice Pierce (far left) and Forest Welborn (not pictured).  Police content the men committed the murders while trying to rob the yogurt shop.

December 1999:
Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott and Maurice Pierce are indicted on capital murder charges. 

June 2000: 
Charges are dropped against Welborn after two grand juries fail to indict him.

May 2001:
A Travis County jury convicts Robert Springsteen (pictured left) of the murders.  He is sentenced to death.

September 2002:
Jury convicts Michael Scott (pictured right) and sentences him to life in prison.

January 2003:
Travis County District Attorneys Office drops the charges against Maurice Pierce.

June 2005:
Gov. Rick Perry commuted Robert Springsteens death sentence to life in prison after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled convicted killers 17 years old and younger cannot be executed.

May 2006:
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturns Robert Springsteens capital murder conviction.  The case is sent back to a Travis County court.

June 2007:
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals overturns Michael Scotts capital murder conviction, sending the case back to a Travis County court.

May 2008:
Austin police arrest former murder suspect Maurice Pierce (pictured left) on charges of resisting arrest and assault on a police officer.

2008 and 2009
Defense attorneys and prosecutors battle over new DNA evidence.  Prosecutors turned over the evidence for the defense to test.  Defense attorneys say new DNA evidence prove someone, other than their clients, committed the murders.  However the mother of Sarah and Jennifer Harbison remain convinced Springsteen and Scott are guilty.

June 2009:
Robert Springsteen and Michael Scott are released from jail, the first time they have been free in a decade.  They are out on bond while the Travis County District Attorneys Office evaluates new DNA evidence.  Several members of the victims family remain convinced Springsteen and Scott are responsible for the murders.

Oct. 28, 2009:
The Travis County District Attorney's Office dropped the charges against Springsteen and Scott, but say it will continue to pursue the case.

Dec. 24, 2010:
Former suspect Maurice Pierce is shot and killed by an Austin police officer after stabbing him in the neck following a routine traffic stop.