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On a Friday in December 1991, seventeen-year-old Jennifer Harbison and her coworker Eliza Thomas, each aged 17, were finishing their shift at the frozen yogurt shop where they worked. Remaining for a ride home were Jennifer's sister, Sarah Harbison, aged 15, and her friend, Amy Ayers, who was 13.

Shortly before the clock struck twelve, a fire at the store attracted first responders, who made a grim discovery: the four girls had been tied up, murdered, and showed evidence of sexual violence. The configration wiped out the bulk of physical proof, except for a shell casing that had fallen into a gutter and minute samples of genetic material, notably traces beneath Amy Ayers' nails.

The Murders That Rocked Austin

These horrific killings traumatized the Texas capital and became one of the best-known long-lingering investigations in the nation. After years of investigative roadblocks and wrongful convictions, the murders in time contributed to a U.S. law approved in the year 2022 that permits victims' families to ask for dormant cases to be reviewed.

However the crimes remained unsolved for nearly 34 years – up to this point.

Key Development

Police authorities revealed on this past Monday a "major development" powered by modern methods in ballistics and forensic science, said the Austin mayor at a media event.

Genetic matches suggest Robert Eugene Brashers, who was confirmed following his demise as a multiple murderer. More murders could be added to his record as DNA analyses continue to improve and broadly applied.

"The sole forensic clue located at the crime scene has been matched to him," said the city's police chief.

The case hasn't reached conclusion, but this represents a "significant advance", and the suspect is considered the sole perpetrator, police said.

Families Find Answers

The sister of Eliza Thomas, Sonora Thomas, shared that her mind was split following Eliza was killed.

"One half of my brain has been screaming, 'What occurred to my sister?', and the remaining part kept insisting, 'I'll never learn the truth. I'll go to my grave unaware, and I need to make peace with it,'" she said.

Upon hearing of this development in the case, "both sides of my thinking started coming together," she said.

"Finally I comprehend what happened, and that does ease my anguish."

Innocent Men Exonerated

The breakthrough not simply bring resolution to the loved ones; it also fully exonerates two suspects, teenagers at the time, who insisted they were coerced into confessing.

Springsteen, then 17 years old during the crime, was sent to death row, and Michael Scott, who was 15, was given life imprisonment. Each defendant asserted they admitted involvement after extended questioning in the late 1990s. In 2009, they were set free after their verdicts were overturned due to legal changes on statements lacking forensic proof.

The district attorney's office dropped the charges against the two men in 2009 after a forensic examination, referred to as Y-STR, revealed neither individual corresponded against the samples found at the yogurt shop.

The Investigation Advances

This genetic marker – suggesting an unidentified male – would ultimately be the crucial element in resolving the murders. In 2018, the profile was reexamined because of technological advancements – but a nationwide inquiry to other police departments returned no genetic matches.

In June, the lead detective handling the investigation in 2022, came up with a thought. Several years had passed since the ballistics from the cartridge had been uploaded to the NIBIN database – and in the years since, the registry had undergone major upgrades.

"The software has improved dramatically. In fact, we're dealing with three-dimensional imaging now," Jackson stated at the press conference.

The system identified a link. An open homicide case in the state of Kentucky, with a comparable method, had the matching variety of bullet casing. The detective and a cold case expert spoke to the local investigators, who are actively pursuing their open file – including analyzing evidence from a rape kit.

Building a Case

The apparent breakthrough prompted further inquiry. Could there be any other evidence that might link with investigations elsewhere? He thought immediately of the Y-STR analysis – but there was a challenge. The Combined DNA Index System is the federal genetic registry for law enforcement, but the yogurt shop DNA was insufficiently intact and limited to submit.

"I suggested, well, it's been a few years. More labs are doing this. Systems are expanding. We should conduct a countrywide check again," the detective said.

He distributed the historic DNA data to police departments across the United States, requesting them to check by hand it to their internal records.

A second connection emerged. The profile aligned exactly with a sample from Greenville, South Carolina – a homicide from 1990 that was closed with help from forensic experts and a well-known researcher in 2018.

Genetic Genealogy Success

The expert built a genealogical chart for the murderer from that case and identified a relative whose genetic material indicated a immediate family link – likely a close relative. A court official ordered that the suspect's remains be dug up, and his genetic material matched against the crime scene sample.

Usually, the genealogist is able to set aside resolved crimes in order to focus on the next one.

"However I have {not been