Thursday, January 31, 1991
Amy Ayers’ 13th birthday.
Wednesday, February 6, 1991
Michael Scott’s 17th birthday.
Thursday, May 9, 1991
Jennifer Harbison’s 17th birthday.
Thursday, May 16, 1991
Eliza Thomas’ 17th birthday.
Wednesday, August 21, 1991
Forrest Welborn’s 15th birthday.
Tuesday, September 3, 1991
Maurice Pierce’s 16th birthday.
Monday, October 28, 1991
Sarah Harbison’s 15th birthday.
Tuesday, November 26, 1991
Robert Springsteen IV’s 17th birthday.
Friday, December 6, 1991
 | | 4:30 p.m. Sarah Harbison arrives home from school and speaks with her mother Barbara. |
| | 6:30 p.m. Jennifer Harbison arrives home from visiting her boyfriend and discusses, with her mother, the plans to have Ayers over. |
| | 7:15 p.m. Ayers prepares to leave with Sarah Harbison for the sleepover. |
| | 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. At the restaurant Dearl Croft orders yogurt. He has a conversation with a suspicious individual. He notices Eliza Thomas working in the store. He also sees her mother, Maria, in the shop. |
| | 9:45 p.m. Maria Thomas stops at the yogurt shop to visit with her daughter. She notices all four girls in the store. |
| | Unknown time Eliza calls her younger sister Sonora and invites her to visit at the store. Sonora would normally ride her bike over and visit. But her father is not home and she cannot leave without permission. |
| | 10 p.m. James Thomas, father of Eliza stops by the store. He also notices all four girls there. James did not see Maria in the store. |
| | 11 p.m. The store’s closing time. |
| | 11:03 p.m. A “no sale” is rung up on the cash register. |
| | 11:47 p.m. A police officer tells dispatch that he sees a fire at the shop. |
| | 11:48 p.m. The time left on the display of Jennifer Harbison’s Timex watch. |
| | 11:53 p.m. The first truck from the Austin Fire Department arrives. The response time of six minutes is because the truck went to the wrong location. |
| | 11:54 p.m. A fire engine arrives. |
| | 11:57 p.m. Another fire engine arrives. |
| | Unknown time Four girls are found dead inside the yogurt shop. Police say $14 is missing from the yogurt shop. |
Saturday, December 7, 1991
| | 4:00 a.m. The Texas Department of Public Safety Crime Scene Unit, led by Irma Rios, arrives at the yogurt shop. |
| | 7:50 a.m. Dr. Thomas J. Brown, autopsies the body of Amy Ayers; he misspells her name as “Amey” on the report |
| | 9:30 a.m. Dr. Brown autopsies the body of Eliza Thomas |
| | 12 p.m. Dr. Brown autopsies the body of Sarah Harbison |
| | 1:45 p.m. Dr. Brown autopsies the body of Jennifer Harbison |
| | Unknown time Maurice Pierce steals a Nissan Pathfinder from Town North Nissan. Pierce had to pay $375 in damages to the dealership. He was charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle. |
Sunday, December 8, 1991
| | Bill Brice, president of Brice Foods, which owns the yogurt shop, flies to Austin to meet with families and offer a $25,000 reward. |
| | Springsteen, Pierce, Welborn and Scott joyride in the stolen Pathfinder to San Antonio. One of the boys buys a newspaper and reads it to everyone in the car. Springsteen and Scott both confessed to buying and reading the paper. |
| | After learning about the murders, Dearl Croft gives a statement to the police. |
Monday, December 9, 1991
Judge Jon Wisser signs an order to seal the autopsy reports of the four girls.
Tuesday, December 10, 1991
The funeral mass for the four girls is held at St. Louis Catholic Church. More than 1,500 people attended. The girls are buried in Capital Memorial Garden Cemetery.
Wednesday, December 14, 1991
Pierce is arrested for having a gun at Northcross Mall. Pierce says Welborn, who is with him, used the gun in the yogurt shop murders. Chandra Morgan said she last saw him on the night of the murders with Springsteen, Scott and Welborn. Police eventually let Pierce and Welborn go saying Pierce has a mental problem.
Sunday, December 15, 1991
Springsteen is questioned as a friend of Pierce.
Friday, January 3, 1992
Austin police, county and federal law enforcement form a task force to investigate the murders.
January/February 1992
A year after the murders, billboards with the girl’s faces go up around town asking, “Who killed these girls?”
March 1992
Detectives suspect a leak within their own office because interviewees know too many hold-back details.
Monday, March 23, 1992
Sr. Sgt. Hector Polanco is removed as supervisor over the investigative task force. He is accused of coercing confessions in other cases.
Wednesday, June 3, 1992
Austin businesses add $75,000 to Brice’s $25,000 reward.
Wednesday, August 5, 1992
Police search for three men wanted for questioning in the yogurt shop. The three had been indicted in a November 1991 abduction and sexual assault.
Monday, October 12, 1992
An Austin investigator goes to Mexico City to tell the Mexican attorney general about the three wanted for questioning. One man fits the description of someone seen outside the yogurt shop the night of the murders.
Tuesday, October 20, 1992
Dearl Croft undergoes a hypnosis session to try to remember more about the night of the murders. It is unsuccessful.
Thursday, October 22, 1992
Mexican police arrest two of the men wanted by Austin police. One man confesses to the murders. He later recants saying he was tortured by Mexican police.
Tuesday, March 16, 1993
Six more officers are added to the police task force. There are 2,000 tips to be investigated.
Monday, December 6, 1993
Two years later, police have investigated 5,000 leads with no arrest. New billboards go up and the reward grows to $125,000.
Wednesday, December 8, 1993
The parents of the girls file a motion to unseal the autopsies to use them in their civil suit against the owners of the yogurt shop and strip mall.
Monday, January 10, 1994
Brice Foods agrees to pay the families of the girls $12 million in a civil suit settlement. The family eventually forms the ‘We Will Not Forget SAJE’ foundation to teach teens about workplace safety. SAJE is the first initial of each girl’s name. The suit was scheduled to be heard on Monday, Feb. 28, 1994.
1995
Pam and Robert Ayers, parents of Amy, move to a quarter-horse ranch in Blanco. Robert ranches full-time and Pam works at the middle school cafeteria in Dripping Springs.
Friday, December 6, 1996
Family members express frustration with the investigation. A videotape on the murders is shown to 130,000 inmates hoping an inmate will turn someone in for the reward.
Thursday, July 31, 1997
Austin police form a new task force with state and federal investigators.
Tuesday, March 3, 1998
The task force created on July 31, 1997 to investigate the murders disbands. The case goes back to Austin police.
Friday, August 6, 1999
Six Austin investigators and one sergeant, including Det. Paul Johnson, are assigned the case. The ask other law enforcement agencies to help. They focus on 60 leads including Pierce’s Northcross Mall arrest.
Thursday, September 9, 1999
Scott is interrogated by Austin police. After several hours of questioning he confesses.
Friday, September 10, 1999
After waiting for police to pick him up, Scott is interrogated again. An investigator holds something to the back of Scott’s head while acting out the execution-style murder of the girls.
Saturday, September 11, 1999
Scott is taken the police station for more interviews.
Sunday, September 12, 1999
Scott talks to the police again. They meet at his house and he gives them batteries for their tape recorder. Later that night, he drives with investigators to find a bridge where he said the boys went immediately after the murders. They drive by the yogurt shop and Scott smokes a cigarette at the memorial for the girls.
Monday, September 13, 1999
APD begins surveillance on Scott
Tuesday, September 14, 1999
Det. Ron Lara is unable to meet Scott at a South Austin Grandy’s because he’s going to interview Springsteen in West Virginia. He sends Det. Manuel Fuentes. Fuentes then takes an eight-page written confession from Scott.
Wednesday, September 15, 1999
| | Scott pages Fuentes and tells him where he is. And that he’s willing to cooperate. |
| | Springsteen, in Charleston, W.V., confesses to Austin police that he killed Ayers. Springsteen’s confession also mentions the bridge that Scott spoke of on Sept. 12. |
Thursday, September 16, 1999
Scott again pages Fuentes to tell him where he is.
Tuesday, October 5, 1999
Judge Mike Lynch signs arrest warrants charging Springsteen, Scott, Pierce and Welborn with four counts of capital murder. The arrest affidavit is signed by Johnson. The names of Welborn and Pierce were edited out because they were minors. Both Springsteen and Scott were denied bail.
Wednesday, October 6, 1999
Springsteen is arrested in Charleston, W.V. Scott, Welborn and Pierce are arrested in Texas.
Friday, October 8, 1999
| | The families of the four girls hold a press conference to discuss the arrests. Pam Ayers says she recently threw away a victims’ services booklet about the court system. She expected the killers would never be found. |
| | An e-mail is sent to all Austin Police Department officers instructing them not to discuss the case with the media. |
Tuesday, October 12, 1999
Springsteen tells a judge he will fight his extradition from West Virginia to Texas. Springsteen is ordered to be held without bond. John Bencheri, uncle of Eliza Thomas, traveled to West Virginia to watch the proceedings.
Thursday, October 14, 1999
A supplemental (and unedited) arrest affidavit was submitted by Paul Johnson for the arrest of Springsteen.
Friday, October 15, 1999
Judge Jean Meurer assigns psychologist George Parker to examine Welborn and Pierce.
Wednesday, October 20, 1999
| | A special warrant for Springsteen signed by Texas Gov. George W. Bush is sent to West Virginia Gov. Cecil Underwood asking that Springsteen be extradited to Texas. |
| | Roy Rose, Springsteen’s best friend in West Virginia, says he does not want to testify to a Travis County Grand Jury. Rose previously told investigators that Springsteen told him about the crime. |
Monday, October 25, 1999
An extradition hearing is held for Springsteen in West Virginia. David Bungard, his attorney, challenges the evidence collected in Austin.
Thursday, November 4, 1999
An extradition hearing for Springsteen is scheduled for this day.
Thursday, November 18, 1999
| | Springsteen’s extradition is cleared after the supreme court rules 4-1 not block the move. His lawyers argue he should not be extradited to a state with the death penalty. |
| | John Bencheri, uncle of Eliza Thomas; and Mark Harbison and Fred McClain, uncles of the Harbison girls, attend the hearing. |
| | At 2 p.m. Springsteen, an Austin prosecutor, Austin police officers, an officer from the U.S. Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and a Texas Ranger board a Texas Department of Public Safety plane to return to Austin. |
Friday, November 19, 1999
Leon Grizzard files a motion to withdraw as the appointed lawyer for Michael Scott. Judge Mike Lynch grants the request.
Monday, November 29, 1999
Judge Jean Meurer begins a hearing to determine if Welborn and Pierce may be tried as adults. Testimony was expected to last 10 days. The judge suspended the hearing on Dec. 6 and Dec. 7 out of respect for the families.
Wednesday, December 1, 1999
| | 12:05 p.m. Judge Mike Lynch signs a search warrant, based on an affidavit by Paul Johnson, to collect hair and blood samples from all four suspects to compare to those found at the crime scene. |
| | 4:02 p.m. The collected samples are given to Johnson and inventoried. |
Friday, December 3, 1999
State District Judge Jeanne Meurer signs an order to unseal the autopsies of the four girls so the attorneys of Welborn and Pierce may review them.
Thursday, December 9, 1999
Judge Jeanne Meurer rules that Pierce and Welborn may be tried as adults.
Friday, December 10, 1999
Welborn’s family pays $37,500, 10 percent of his bail, to get him out of jail.
Tuesday, December 14, 1999
| | Judge Mike Lynch signs a gag order for all parties in the yogurt shop case. |
| | Three hours later District Attorney Ronnie Earle, accompanied by the families of the girls announces that Springsteen has been indicted by a grand jury for the murder of the girls. |
Wednesday, December 15, 1999
Leon Grizzard, appointed attorney for Michael Scott, submits a bill to the court for 83.4 hours of work for $8,340. Judge Mike Lynch orders the payment of $5,000. The bill is later amended to be 63.6 hours. Lynch orders the payment of $4,300.
Thursday, December 16, 1999
Amalia Rodriguez-Mendoza, the district clerk of Travis County, orders the Travis County Sheriff’s office to notify Springsteen that he has been indicted for capital murder. The order is carried out on Thursday, December 23.
Wednesday, December 22, 1999
Families of Scott and Pierce hold a vigil outside the Travis County jail. On the advice of their lawyer, Welborn’s family did not attend. Springsteen’s family lives out of town.
Tuesday, December 28, 1999
Pierce and Scott are indicted on four counts of capital murder. Scott faces the death penalty and Pierce faces a maximum of 35 years.
Thursday, January 6, 2000
Judge Mike Lynch signs another arrest warrant to keep Springsteen in jail.
Friday, January 7, 2000
Defense attorney Berkley Bettis files a request for access to the autopsies of the four girls. Judge Lynch approves the request on January 21.
Friday, February 11, 2000
Judge Mike Lynch unseals the autopsy reports of the four girls so the lawyers of all four suspects may review them. The judge wrote the reports were, “…to be used by the attorneys in preparation for trial and … not to be disseminated to the public or the media in any way.”
Monday, February 28, 2000
The Austin American-Statesman petitions Judge Mike Lynch to unseal the autopsy reports of the four girls.
Thursday, March 2, 2000
| | Linda Icenhuaer-Ramirez, Forrest Welborn’s attorney, files a motion stating they have no objection to releasing the autopsies to the public or the Austin American-Statesman. Berkley Bettis, on behalf of Springsteen, does the same. Tony Diaz, on behalf of Scott, does the same. Guillermo Gonzalez, on behalf of Pierce, does the same. |
| | Judge Mike Lynch orders the autopsies to be released to the general public and the Austin American-Statesman. |
May 2000
Police search Lake Austin under the Loop 360 bridge for a handgun used in the murders.
Friday, May 26, 2000
Hours after attorneys receive a confidential scientific report it is leaked to the media. Assistant District Attorney Darla Davis files a motion to keep all records at the office of the Travis County District Attorney. The order, approved by Judge Lynch, forces the defense lawyers to go to the district attorneys’ office to review all documents pertaining to the case.
Wednesday, May 31, 2000
Scott files into evidence a photograph, taken from a video, that shows an interrogator pressing what appears to be a gun into the back of his head.
Wednesday, June 7, 2000
Grand jury member, Diana Casteñeda, a former school board member, writes a letter to Judge Mike Lynch saying the indictments returned against Springsteen, Scott and Pierce may be tainted because the prosecutors withheld evidence. “I respectfully request that you hold a hearing or what other procedure necessary to determine whether the indictments returned by 147th our (sic) Grand Jury were obtained by deception or withholding of evidence,” part of the letter read.
Thursday, June 22, 2000
Judge Mike Lynch refuses to significantly lower the bail of Pierce; it was lowered from $750,000 to $700,000.
Friday, June 30, 2000
Four capital murder charges against Welborn are dismissed by a judge after a second grand jury fails to indict him.
Tuesday, July 11, 2000
Springsteen’s lawyers file documents for access to DNA evidence to be tested by a private company.
Wednesday August 23, 2000
Lynch denies Springsteen’s lawyer’s motion to suppress Springsteen’s videotaped confession.
Tuesday, September 19, 2000
Bettis asks the judge for $24,402 for 406.7 hours of work on the case. Judge Lynch approves $20,000.
Wednesday, December 20, 2000
Bettis asks the judge for $13,110 for 218.5 hours of work on the case. Judge Lynch approves $10,000.
February 2001
The trial of Robert Springsteen was originally scheduled to begin this month.
Wednesday, February 14, 2001
Sawyer requests funds from Judge Lynch to hire an investigator for Springsteen at the expense of the court. The judge approves $5,000.
Friday, February 16, 2001
Lawyers for Springsteen, Pierce and Scott file a request for access to hairs found at the crime scene.
Tuesday, February 20, 2001
Sawyer requests funds from Judge Lynch to hire a fire and explosives investigator for Springsteen at the expense of the court. The judge approves $5,000.
Thursday, March 1, 2001
Judge Mike Lynch orders the Texas Department of Public Safety crime lab to turn over it’s DNA research to the independent DNA laboratory used by the defense.
Friday, March 9, 2001
Judge Lynch signs an order ending the discovery phase of trial preparation. Lynch wrote, “All motions and requests for immediate emergency hearings on discovery issues are denied, and the parties are instructed to proceed with trial preparations under all existing order.”
Monday, March 19, 2001
Assistant district attorneys seeks to amend Robert Springsteen’s indictment for the murder of Amy Ayers to include her strangulation. Judge Lynch approves the requests on March 22.
Tuesday, March 20, 2001
Sawyer requests funds from Judge Mike Lynch to hire an investigator for Springsteen at the expense of the court. The judge approves $2,500.
Thursday, April 12, 2001
Springsteen is arraigned for the murder of Amy Ayers.
Monday, April 16, 2001
Jury selection begins.
Tuesday, April 17, 2001
After screening 500 potential jurors the first is chosen.
Friday, April 20, 2001
The jury is halfway full. Six members are seated but six more and two alternates are still needed.
Monday, April 23, 2001
Eighth juror is selected.
Friday, April 27, 2001
The eleventh juror is selected.
Monday, April 30, 2001
The final juror is selected along with one alternate.
Tuesday, May 1, 2001
The second alternate for the jury is selected; completing the entire panel.
Friday, May 4, 2001
Judge Lynch delays the start of the trail from Monday, May 7, to Tuesday, May 8.
Monday, May 7, 2001
Judge Lynch is expected to rule on the quashing of the suspect’s confession. Instead, he says he will consider them as they come up in the trial.
Tuesday, May 8, 2001
Springsteen’s trial begins; opening statements are presented; family members of the girls testify about their last day.
Wednesday, May 30, 2001
Springsteen is found guilty of capital murder.
Friday, June 1, 2001
Springsteen is given a death sentence by Judge Mike Lynch.
Monday, September 24, 2001
Pre-trial hearings begin for Michael Scott.
Tuesday, September 25, 2001
Judge Lynch appoints Carlos Garcia, an experienced death penalty lawyer, to Michael Scott’s defense team. Pre-trial is suspended to November to allow Garcia to prepare the case.
Monday, July 29, 2002
Jury selections begins for Scott’s trial. More than a hundred potential jurors called.
Tuesday, July 30, 2002
One hundred more potential jurors are processed.
Wednesday, July 31, 2002
Three jurors selected for Scott’s trial.
Thursday, August 1, 2002
One more juror selected.
Friday, August 2, 2002
Two more jurors selected.
Monday, August 5, 2002
One more juror selected.
Tuesday, August 6, 2002
Three more jurors chosen.
Wednesday, August 7, 2002
One more jurors chosen.
Thursday, August 8, 2002
Three more jurors chosen completing the panel of 14: 12 for the jury and two alternates. The jury is made up of nine women and five men.
Wednesday, August 14, 2002
Opening statements are presented in the case of State of Texas v. Michael Scott.
Thursday, August 15, 2002
Scott’s eight-page confession given on Sept. 14, 1999, is read to the jury.
Friday, September 19, 2002
The longest criminal trial in Travis County history wraps up and the Scott jury is given the case.
Sunday, September 22, 2002
Scott is found guilty.
Tuesday, September 24, 2002
Scott is sentenced to 35 years in prison minus three years for time served. He will be eligible for parole when he is 60.
Tuesday, January 28, 2003
Saying he didn’t have enough evidence to secure a conviction, Travis County District Attorney Ronnie Earle announces Maurice Pierce will be released from jail.
Thursday, January 30, 2003
Pierce, accompanied by attorneys and family, reads a statement to the press. He asks to be left alone by the media. His attorney says Pierce will leave Austin.
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Robert Springsteen's conviction is overturned by the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals.
Return to the Yogurt Shop Trial Information homepage.
Information in this timeline report was gathered from court documents, news, wire and staff reports and the Austin American-Statesman.
