Judge declares 4 men wrongly accused of 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders innocent

Associated Press (AP)EN 7 min read 100% complete by By JIM VERTUNOFebruary 19, 2026 at 09:23 PM

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long article 7 min

In February 2026, a Texas judge declared four men innocent of the 1991 Austin yogurt shop murders, for which they were wrongfully accused. The exoneration hearing took place at the Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center in Austin. The four men, Michael Scott, Forrest Welborn, Maurice Pierce (posthumously), and Robert Springsteen, were originally suspects in the case. The ruling officially clears their names after years of doubt and legal battles surrounding the original investigation and confessions. The Austin Police Department Cold Case Detective Daniel Jackson spoke at the hearing.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Blackwell-Thurman Criminal Justice Center ×350% Daniel Jackson 50% Steve Goodson 50% Kim Pierce 50% Robert Springsteen 60% Maurice Pierce ×260% Austin Police Department 60% Forrest Welborn ×270% Michael Scott ×270% Austin, Texas ×580% Austin Yogurt Shop Murders ×790%

Keywords

1991 austin yogurt shop murders 100% wrongful accusation 90% exoneration 80% innocent 70% cold case 50% justice 40%

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