TX TX - Yogurt Shop Murders, Austin, 6 Dec 1991

[twall]

Wow finally! I have followed this case for a long time and recall reading linked book when my youngest daughter was very young. She will be 21 in 2 months and I recently watched the new HBO docu series, it was very well done.

https://www.amazon.com/Murdered-Innocents-Corey-Mitchell/dp/0786016752/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&dib_tag=se&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.hxM5Nl8-b0fsMQfxRCNaQ4h41I-e1pKeNN-iYqeyqDLwpYASOOG5le_ef6A92mLW.NBA2-NsEG2iQOVsX0Mjqpnt7IceK5F6DKvrInmokUxI&qid=1758930973&sr=8-1

 

[DS2021]

I dont believe for a second that this was only his second time committing murder.

DNA testing revealed that his genetic profile was a perfect match for the murderer of 28-year-old Genevieve "Jenny" Zitricki, who had been bludgeoned, raped and strangled with pantyhose at her apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on April 5, 1990.[5] At the time, it had been established that after murdering her in the bedroom, the killer had dragged her body into a bathtub and submerged it, before writing "don't with my family" on the bathroom's mirror.[2] A DNA sample belonging to the perpetrator was isolated in 1995, and then uploaded to CODIS. Investigators were able to establish that at the time of Zitricki's murder, Brashers was living in Greenville, not far away from her home.

Robert Eugene Brashers - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

There were either victims before Jenny, or victims between Jenny and the Yogurt Shop Murders imo.

 

[RobertCatesby]

I dont believe for a second that this was only his second time committing murder.

DNA testing revealed that his genetic profile was a perfect match for the murderer of 28-year-old Genevieve "Jenny" Zitricki, who had been bludgeoned, raped and strangled with pantyhose at her apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on April 5, 1990.[5] At the time, it had been established that after murdering her in the bedroom, the killer had dragged her body into a bathtub and submerged it, before writing "don't with my family" on the bathroom's mirror.[2] A DNA sample belonging to the perpetrator was isolated in 1995, and then uploaded to CODIS. Investigators were able to establish that at the time of Zitricki's murder, Brashers was living in Greenville, not far away from her home.

Robert Eugene Brashers - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

There were either victims before Jenny, or victims between Jenny and the Yogurt Shop Murders imo.

100%. I highly doubt the Zitricki murder was the first.

 

[truenoblesavage]

Wow!! This is one of those “big” cold cases you never think will be solved…amazed to see it has.

 

[bajaflash]

Please tell me that detective gets to put on that striped shirt he kept away until he got to tell the families they solved the case

(He's on all the 48 hrs episodes on this case and was being filmed the night he got the call)

 

[arielilane]

“48 Hours” correspondent Erin Moriarty has learned serial killer Robert Brashers, who is deceased, has been identified as a suspect in the 1991 murder of four teenage girls in an Austin, Texas, yogurt shop. He died in January 1999 by suicide during a standoff with police.

The gun he used to shoot himself is believed to be consistent with a bullet casing found in a drain inside the yogurt shop, says retired Austin detective John Jones. He told Erin the connection between Brashers and the case was also made through DNA.

Read more: https://cbsn.ws/4pHI5OL

“48 Hours’” exclusive: Correspondent @EFMoriarty has learned serial killer Robert Brashers, who is deceased, has been identified as a suspect in the 1991 murders of four teenage girls in an Austin, Texas, yogurt shop. “48 Hours” has covered this case from the very beginning.

Read more:https://cbsn.ws/3IgVFYE

https://twitter.com/x/status/1971701915730747800

 

[bajaflash]

I dont believe for a second that this was only his second time committing murder.

DNA testing revealed that his genetic profile was a perfect match for the murderer of 28-year-old Genevieve "Jenny" Zitricki, who had been bludgeoned, raped and strangled with pantyhose at her apartment in Greenville, South Carolina, on April 5, 1990.[5] At the time, it had been established that after murdering her in the bedroom, the killer had dragged her body into a bathtub and submerged it, before writing "don't with my family" on the bathroom's mirror.[2] A DNA sample belonging to the perpetrator was isolated in 1995, and then uploaded to CODIS. Investigators were able to establish that at the time of Zitricki's murder, Brashers was living in Greenville, not far away from her home.

Robert Eugene Brashers - Wikipedia

en.m.wikipedia.org

There were either victims before Jenny, or victims between Jenny and the Yogurt Shop Murders imo.

Its not.

Who was Robert Eugene Brashers? | What we know about the man law enforcement sources say committed the Yogurt Shop Murders

Brashers, who died in 1999, was a serial killer whose DNA has been connected to numerous crimes across the U.S., including the 1991 quadruple murder in Austin.

www.kvue.com

 

[DS2021]

Its not.

Who was Robert Eugene Brashers? | What we know about the man law enforcement sources say committed the Yogurt Shop Murders

Brashers, who died in 1999, was a serial killer whose DNA has been connected to numerous crimes across the U.S., including the 1991 quadruple murder in Austin.

www.kvue.com

That article mentions 1 murder prior the Yogurt Shop Murders.

Then theres nothing until 1998, which i doubt. Im sure there's more between these 4 and the 2 in 98

 

[bajaflash]

That article mentions 1 murder prior the Yogurt Shop Murders.

Then theres nothing until 1998, which i doubt. Im sure there's more between these 4 and the 2 in 98

My mistake.

But if you're a cold blooded killer I can absolutely believe you get away with it and taking on 4 victims with a gun doesn't seem all that far fetched.

He didn't hesitate in taking himself out, could very well be "if I get caught ill just end it"

 

[Assassino]

Incredible. I told my true crime friends last year that the Yogurt Shop Murders case would be solved in 2025 and JonBenet Ramsey would be solved in 2026. That's one down. Genetic genealogy is the most amazing forensic advancement in the history of forensic science. It truly is unbelievable. It's going to solve so many cold cases in the coming years, and when technology gets even better to extract DNA and develop profiles, it will continue to be more and more powerful of a tool.

I, along with so many others, felt that this is an individual who definitely killed and sexually assaulted victims before. Not surprising it was a serial killer, and his other crimes match this. The one thing I'm wondering is if he was one of those two men sitting in the back booth in the fatigue-designed outfits before closing who were the last reported people to have been in the shop? Because the girls were murdered very shortly after the last person aside from those two left the store. And if it wasn't those two guys, then that would mean that there was an incredibly short window where those two guys left the shop and Brashers entered it. Like a matter of minutes. If so, makes me think he was casing the place and waiting for it to empty before he went in. And somehow got in when the girls apparently locked the door to prevent more customers from entering around closing.

And if Brashers was one of those two men, it would mean he had an accomplice, but since law enforcement have not mentioned anything about an accomplice, I'm guessing it wasn't those two men after all. I'm just so glad it's solved and so happy those families will finally get as much closure as they can possibly get for a crime this horrific. Looking forward to any further details provided as they come out.

 

[Jcambridge1]

I still think sloppy police work. I read about this case evidence was not logged right. Suspects interrogated too late. Now wrong convictions. I smell a rat.

 

[Jcambridge1]

A gun is a great equalizer.

I doubt it

 

[CooperDyl]

I know theoretically it’s possible for 1 man to commit this atrocity - I just wonder if it’s likely. It seems like such a risk for a single perpetrator to attempt this crime against 4 teenaged girls alone, even if he was armed. All of a sudden you’ve got 4 times the chance of somebody managing to run away and sound the alarm, to fight back etc.
If it were 2 perpetrators, all of a sudden that halves that chance and increases their control and so on.
Either way, I’m sure we will find out at the press conference.
All imo.

 

[gremlin444]

Well, between the articles and the wikipedia entry, here's the quick beginnings of a crime timeline for him:

*Nov 1985 FL, Port St. Lucie attempted sexual assault and murder of 24 yo Michelle Wilkerson--shot her twice
*1986 May 1989--convicted of attack on Michelle Wilkerson, sentenced to 12 yrs, got out on parole after 3 yrs
*April 1990--SC, Greenville murder of 28 yo Genevieve Zitricki (DNA match made around 2006)
*Dec 1991--TX, Austin murder and sexual assault in Yogurt Shop Murders (DNA match made 2025)
*Feb 1992--GA, Cobb County arrest for grand theft auto, unlawful possession of a weapon, and theft. Police found police jacket, lock picking tools, radio scanner, and fake TN driver's license
*92-Feb 1997--sentenced to 5 yrs for the Cobb County arrest, served full sentence
*Mar 1997--TN, Memphis--rape of 14 yo girl (DNA match made in 2017)
*Mar 1998--MO, Portageville--murder and rape of 38-year-old Sherri Scherer and her 12-year-old daughter Megan (DNA match made in 2000s)
*Mar 1998, 2 hours after murder and rape of Sherri and Megan Scherer--TN, Dyersberg--breaks into home and attempted assault of 25 yo (woman fought back fiercely and he fled)
*Apr 1998--MO, Paragould arrested during attempted break in to the house of a woman living alone who he had once been employed by (cut wires leading to home), armed at the time. Having been employed by her on a previous occasion, he had cut the wires leading to her home and was armed at the time of his arrest. Video camera and locksmith tools were seized from him as well. Taken into custody, later released after someone posted his bail.
*Jan 1999--MO, Kennett found with stolen car at a hotel with his wife and 3 daughters. Brashers took his family hostage for 4 hours before releasing them and shooting himself in the head.

 

[gremlin444]

Well, between the articles and the wikipedia entry, here's the quick beginnings of a crime timeline for him:

*Nov 1985 FL, Port St. Lucie attempted sexual assault and murder of 24 yo Michelle Wilkerson--shot her twice
*1986 May 1989--convicted of attack on Michelle Wilkerson, sentenced to 12 yrs, got out on parole after 3 yrs
*April 1990--SC, Greenville murder of 28 yo Genevieve Zitricki (DNA match made around 2006)
*Dec 1991--TX, Austin murder and sexual assault in Yogurt Shop Murders (DNA match made 2025)
*Feb 1992--GA, Cobb County arrest for grand theft auto, unlawful possession of a weapon, and theft. Police found police jacket, lock picking tools, radio scanner, and fake TN driver's license
*92-Feb 1997--sentenced to 5 yrs for the Cobb County arrest, served full sentence
*Mar 1997--TN, Memphis--rape of 14 yo girl (DNA match made in 2017)
*Mar 1998--MO, Portageville--murder and rape of 38-year-old Sherri Scherer and her 12-year-old daughter Megan (DNA match made in 2000s)
*Mar 1998, 2 hours after murder and rape of Sherri and Megan Scherer--TN, Dyersberg--breaks into home and attempted assault of 25 yo (woman fought back fiercely and he fled)
*Apr 1998--MO, Paragould arrested during attempted break in to the house of a woman living alone who he had once been employed by (cut wires leading to home), armed at the time. Having been employed by her on a previous occasion, he had cut the wires leading to her home and was armed at the time of his arrest. Video camera and locksmith tools were seized from him as well. Taken into custody, later released after someone posted his bail.
*Jan 1999--MO, Kennett found with stolen car at a hotel with his wife and 3 daughters. Brashers took his family hostage for 4 hours before releasing them and shooting himself in the head.

According to wikipedia, he married in the early 90s and had a daughter with his wife in 1992.

In 2019, his adult daughter said his mental health appeared to decline noticeably around April 1988 and was often gone for week at a time due to his construction job.

From just that rough history, I see someone who had no problem being bold and risky in his crimes. His crimes involved teenage girls and women. He once attempted to break in and assault someone just 2 hours after he had raped and killed a woman and her daughter. He committed crimes right after getting out of prison. He made use of a gun in his crimes and had no problems controlling his wife and 3 daughters with a gun in a hotel room when he took them hostage or a woman and her daughter jut the year prior.

IMHO, this is not a man who would have a problem controlling 4 young teenage girls at gunpoint, esp when all the girls knew each other and could easily be controlled by threatening the other 3 (all the more so when you have 2 sisters and 2 best friends there).

 

[justtrish]

So I wonder if he entered the yogurt shop pretending to be LE? If he was arrested a few months later with the police items, maybe he used those in the Dec 91 murders to gain the girls trust?

 

[Betty P]

According to wikipedia, he married in the early 90s and had a daughter with his wife in 1992.

In 2019, his adult daughter said his mental health appeared to decline noticeably around April 1988 and was often gone for week at a time due to his construction job.

From just that rough history, I see someone who had no problem being bold and risky in his crimes. His crimes involved teenage girls and women. He once attempted to break in and assault someone just 2 hours after he had raped and killed a woman and her daughter. He committed crimes right after getting out of prison. He made use of a gun in his crimes and had no problems controlling his wife and 3 daughters with a gun in a hotel room when he took them hostage or a woman and her daughter jut the year prior.

IMHO, this is not a man who would have a problem controlling 4 young teenage girls at gunpoint, esp when all the girls knew each other and could easily be controlled by threatening the other 3 (all the more so when you have 2 sisters and 2 best friends there).

Wow! Finally.

Yes, he was probably able to control them easily by using a gun. He was certainly bold and fearless. He certainly killed a lot of women and destroyed many lives.

The 'yogurt shop murders' have been solved after more than 30 years, Texas authorities say

The 'yogurt shop murders' have been solved with the help of DNA technology.

www.yahoo.com

 

[Gordon_]

Oh wow, this was one of those ones I had lost hope that it would ever be solved. Crazy.

 

[TenaciousTBacon]

Fantastic news! I'd genuinely thought it was too late for this cold case. I'm curious how after decades of no DNA matches suddenly a match pops up on an old casing from a drain. Can't wait for a press conference.

 

[MassGuy]

Fantastic news! I'd genuinely thought it was too late for this cold case. I'm curious how after decades of no DNA matches suddenly a match pops up on an old casing from a drain. Can't wait for a press conference.

Apparently he wasn't in CODIS, so they had to use IGG. When they identified him, they seem to have been able to match the gun he used to kill himself, with a casing found at the crime scene.

So they have him on DNA, and on ballistics.