AUSTIN, Texas — More than 33 years ago, four teen girls were murdered at an Austin yogurt shop. The unsolved crime has puzzled long-time Austinites for decades. Now, a docuseries aims to shed new light on the case – and South by Southwest (SXSW) attendees will have a chance at a first look.
HBO’s new docuseries “The Yogurt Shop Murders” will screen its first episode at the ZACH Theatre as part of SXSW on Monday, March 10, at noon. The series is directed by Margaret Brown and executive produced by actress and Austin resident Emma Stone and her husband, former “Saturday Night Live” writer Dave McCary, among others.
Primary access to the screening will be given to those with a Platinum Badge or a Film & TV Badge. Secondary access is available to anyone with a Music Badge, Interactive Badge or a Film & TV Wristband.
A date has not been announced for when the docuseries will arrive on HBO’s streaming platform, Max.
Background on the Yogurt Shop Murders
On Dec. 6, 1991, four teen girls were bound, gagged and killed at an I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt shop off West Anderson Lane in North Austin. The building was then set on fire, destroying what could have been a trove of forensics clues.
The victims were identified as 17-year-old Jennifer Harbison; her younger sister, 15-year-old Sarah Harbison; 17-year-old Eliza Thomas; and 13-year-old Amy Ayers. Thomas and Jennifer Harbison both worked at the yogurt shop, while Ayers and Sarah Harbison stopped in before closing time on the night of the crime.
The quadruple murder had a significant impact on the growing city of Austin, and more than three decades later, the case has left more questions than answers.
Four men were arrested and charged with capital murder in 1999, but two of their cases were overturned. The other two never went to trial.
In recent years, there have been numerous pushes for additional investigation of the case, including testing DNA evidence.