1
00:00:02,767 --> 00:00:05,333
[man 1] Heavy smoke
was visible from the street.
2
00:00:06,300 --> 00:00:09,200
I look down,
and there was a body.
3
00:00:09,200 --> 00:00:10,967
[dispatch speaking]
4
00:00:15,467 --> 00:00:18,367
The burning of the bodies
5
00:00:18,767 --> 00:00:21,767
was unimaginable.
6
00:00:21,767 --> 00:00:26,166
The fire
has split their thighs
and split their arms.
7
00:00:26,166 --> 00:00:28,166
And they were nude.
8
00:00:28,166 --> 00:00:31,166
It was something
that I couldn't really
wrap my mind around.
9
00:00:31,166 --> 00:00:34,967
DNA from multiple males
is discovered on the swabs.
10
00:00:34,967 --> 00:00:39,667
Witnesses talked
about seeing a Latino man
11
00:00:39,667 --> 00:00:44,700
inside a light-colored
American car.
12
00:00:44,700 --> 00:00:46,800
It all fits
there four guys.
13
00:00:46,800 --> 00:00:49,967
If there are monsters,
in my head, he was one.
14
00:00:56,467 --> 00:00:58,567
[theme music playing]
15
00:01:24,000 --> 00:01:27,166
[Elaine Aradillas]
The yogurt shop case
is something
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00:01:27,166 --> 00:01:30,266
that I've known about
most of my life.
17
00:01:30,266 --> 00:01:34,367
It's one of the most
well-known stories in Texas.
18
00:01:35,100 --> 00:01:38,767
When I left for college,
in Austin,
19
00:01:38,767 --> 00:01:41,467
my parents even told me,
20
00:01:41,767 --> 00:01:42,767
"You be careful.
21
00:01:42,767 --> 00:01:45,467
"Don't forget what happened
to those girls
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00:01:45,467 --> 00:01:47,166
"at the yogurt shop."
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00:01:48,166 --> 00:01:49,767
The city was upset.
24
00:01:49,767 --> 00:01:50,967
They were outraged.
25
00:01:50,967 --> 00:01:52,300
They wanted answers.
26
00:01:52,300 --> 00:01:55,634
And there is a cloud
over the entire city
because of it.
27
00:01:59,166 --> 00:02:02,200
[Sonora Thomas]
What I remember, mostly,
about growing up in Austin,
28
00:02:02,200 --> 00:02:03,967
is that we felt safe.
29
00:02:05,667 --> 00:02:09,767
Austin was a smaller city
in the '80s and '90s,
30
00:02:09,767 --> 00:02:12,867
and Dallas and Houston
were, like, the big cities
back then.
31
00:02:12,867 --> 00:02:14,467
I'm Sonora Thomas.
32
00:02:14,467 --> 00:02:17,934
I'm Eliza Thomas'
younger sister.
33
00:02:19,166 --> 00:02:22,166
I was 13 years old in 1991.
34
00:02:22,166 --> 00:02:25,266
And Eliza was four years
older than me.
35
00:02:25,266 --> 00:02:28,967
She was very social.
She just always
had lot of friends.
36
00:02:28,967 --> 00:02:31,567
And she was always
going to gatherings.
37
00:02:31,567 --> 00:02:35,867
Going out dancing
with a big group of people
on Friday night.
38
00:02:35,867 --> 00:02:40,000
Eliza Thomas
is a 17-year old
high school senior
39
00:02:40,000 --> 00:02:43,667
who loves make-up
and clothes.
40
00:02:43,667 --> 00:02:47,600
but also is really into
fixing up cars.
41
00:02:47,600 --> 00:02:51,367
[Sonora]
My dad, really, kind of,
enjoyed teaching Eliza
42
00:02:51,367 --> 00:02:53,166
all about car repair.
43
00:02:53,166 --> 00:02:56,166
But Eliza also
always loved animals.
44
00:02:56,166 --> 00:02:59,300
If it was some little being
that she could take care of,
45
00:02:59,300 --> 00:03:01,533
she was just
loving up on it.
46
00:03:02,600 --> 00:03:05,767
[Dennis] Eliza's dream
is to be a veterinarian.
47
00:03:05,767 --> 00:03:07,700
So, after her sophomore year,
48
00:03:07,700 --> 00:03:09,767
she transfer
to Lanier High School
49
00:03:09,767 --> 00:03:14,867
and enrolls in their
Future Farmers
of America program.
50
00:03:14,867 --> 00:03:18,000
She had a pig
the first year
that she was there
51
00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,166
That was her junior year
of high school.
52
00:03:20,166 --> 00:03:23,967
At Lanier, Eliza makes friends
with the Harbison sisters,
53
00:03:23,967 --> 00:03:26,000
who are also in the FFA.
54
00:03:26,000 --> 00:03:30,867
17-year-old Jenniefer
and 15-year old Sarah.
55
00:03:30,867 --> 00:03:34,367
[Aradillas] Jennifer
works with Eliza
at the local yogurt store,
56
00:03:34,367 --> 00:03:36,600
I Can't Believe It's Yogurt.
57
00:03:36,600 --> 00:03:40,100
The yogurt shop
was our little community
ice-cream store.
58
00:03:40,100 --> 00:03:42,767
Her friends would
stop by all the time,
59
00:03:42,767 --> 00:03:44,233
and just hang out.
60
00:03:45,100 --> 00:03:47,100
My name is Beverly Lowry.
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00:03:47,100 --> 00:03:52,567
And I spent eight years
working on a book
about this case.
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00:03:52,567 --> 00:03:56,000
Eliza and Jennifer
went to work that day,
63
00:03:56,000 --> 00:03:59,667
on December 6th,
for the closing shift.
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00:03:59,667 --> 00:04:02,467
Jennifer's younger
sister, Sarah,
65
00:04:02,467 --> 00:04:05,767
asked her mother
if she could go, as well.
66
00:04:05,767 --> 00:04:09,467
And she wanted to invite
her best friend
67
00:04:09,467 --> 00:04:14,266
Amy Ayers, who was on 13,
and still in Junior High.
68
00:04:14,266 --> 00:04:17,166
[Dennis] Sarah and Amy
get permission
from their parents
69
00:04:17,166 --> 00:04:21,367
and then, Jennifer is planning
on driving everyone home,
70
00:04:21,367 --> 00:04:23,800
for a sleepover
at the Harbisons'
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00:04:23,800 --> 00:04:27,767
after she's wrapped up
at the yogurt shop,
that night.
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00:04:30,266 --> 00:04:34,200
[Sonora] Eliza called me
and asked if I
wanted to join her.,
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00:04:34,200 --> 00:04:39,100
but our dad was strict
about not leaving the house
without his permission.
74
00:04:39,100 --> 00:04:41,467
Since he wasn't home,
I couldn't leave.
75
00:04:41,467 --> 00:04:43,567
So, I wasn't able to go.
76
00:04:46,100 --> 00:04:49,000
[Aradillas] Then, at 11:47 pm,
77
00:04:49,000 --> 00:04:53,100
an Austin police officer
was on patrol,
78
00:04:53,100 --> 00:04:56,400
and passed the strip mall
with the yogurt shop,
79
00:04:56,400 --> 00:05:01,467
and noticed a fire
and called dispatch.
80
00:05:01,467 --> 00:05:04,467
My name is Dave Deveau.
I was the responding
firefighter.
81
00:05:04,467 --> 00:05:07,433
on December 6th, 1991.
82
00:05:09,400 --> 00:05:12,567
The call came in,
and when we arrived on scene,
83
00:05:12,567 --> 00:05:14,333
heavy smoke was visible.
84
00:05:15,867 --> 00:05:18,700
Looked like it was coming
from the backside
85
00:05:18,700 --> 00:05:21,233
of the I Can't Believe
It's Yogurt shop.
86
00:05:23,166 --> 00:05:26,767
I didn't know
if there was somebody
in the building, or not.
87
00:05:26,767 --> 00:05:29,000
As soon as I got
to the back storage room,
88
00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:32,300
it was completely
blackened out with smoke.
89
00:05:32,300 --> 00:05:36,300
It didn't seem like
it took all that long
to knock the fire down.
90
00:05:36,300 --> 00:05:38,767
A few minutes, at the most.
91
00:05:38,767 --> 00:05:42,266
It was fairly hot,
so, couldn't stand up.
92
00:05:42,266 --> 00:05:44,066
Had to kneel down.
93
00:05:44,800 --> 00:05:47,700
And my lieutenant
pointed down,
94
00:05:47,700 --> 00:05:51,367
and I looked down
and there was a girl's body.
95
00:05:52,467 --> 00:05:54,467
I stood up
and found another one.
96
00:05:56,467 --> 00:05:58,367
Then there was another girl.
97
00:05:58,367 --> 00:06:02,367
The ceiling had kinda
dropped down on 'em
and they were covered up.
98
00:06:02,367 --> 00:06:05,500
[Dennis] The firefighters
are shocked to discover
99
00:06:05,500 --> 00:06:07,400
that there are people
100
00:06:07,400 --> 00:06:10,300
that have been caught
in the building.
101
00:06:10,300 --> 00:06:15,166
But then they notice
something even more alarming.
102
00:06:15,166 --> 00:06:17,367
They had all been shot.
103
00:06:17,367 --> 00:06:20,233
And the state the girls
were in, they were naked.
104
00:06:20,867 --> 00:06:22,400
So there's
nothing else to think
105
00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:25,133
other than
there was foul play.
106
00:06:26,100 --> 00:06:28,767
Then I was pulled out,
and it became a crime scene.
107
00:06:28,767 --> 00:06:30,967
And the detectives
took it over.
108
00:06:32,467 --> 00:06:34,100
My name is John Jones.
109
00:06:34,100 --> 00:06:37,000
I'm the original investigator
on the yogurt shop murders.
110
00:06:37,000 --> 00:06:40,266
That night, I had a local
reporter riding with me.
111
00:06:40,266 --> 00:06:43,400
He was doing a series
on murders in Texas.
112
00:06:43,400 --> 00:06:44,567
when I got the call.
113
00:06:58,800 --> 00:07:01,467
Got about halfway
to the yogurt shop,
114
00:07:01,467 --> 00:07:05,333
and they call back again
and say that they've
found a fourth body.
115
00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:20,867
Yo, we're the Hillside
Shopping Center.
116
00:07:20,867 --> 00:07:23,634
This is where
the yogurt shop was.
117
00:07:25,800 --> 00:07:29,367
When I got there,
you could just see
a red light.
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00:07:29,367 --> 00:07:32,000
When I went in there,
there was still smoke in there
119
00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,700
ad there was still water.
120
00:07:33,700 --> 00:07:36,400
Everything was
black and gray,
121
00:07:36,400 --> 00:07:39,667
as you would expect
in a fire scene.
122
00:07:39,667 --> 00:07:43,467
Except for three of the girls
were stacked together.
123
00:07:43,467 --> 00:07:49,600
The last one was maybe
another ten feet away from
where I found the initial one.
124
00:07:49,600 --> 00:07:54,900
And you could see the fire
has split their thighs
and split their arms.
125
00:07:54,900 --> 00:07:58,200
[Daveau] It was kind of--
almost like you're
looking at a doll.
126
00:07:58,200 --> 00:08:00,166
You know they're human.
127
00:08:00,166 --> 00:08:04,233
But it's just mind-boggling
that you would find
something like that.
128
00:08:04,867 --> 00:08:08,066
I have seen
a lot of death.
129
00:08:08,066 --> 00:08:11,433
But never anything
to compare to this.
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00:08:16,200 --> 00:08:18,367
[Jones] I thought,
because they were nude,
131
00:08:18,367 --> 00:08:20,467
maybe they were
sexually assaulted.
132
00:08:20,467 --> 00:08:22,367
The clock
starts ticking then.
133
00:08:22,367 --> 00:08:25,166
How long is it gonna take us
to get this solved?
134
00:08:25,166 --> 00:08:26,266
Conventional was to me--
135
00:08:26,266 --> 00:08:28,066
is if it goes longer
than 48 hours,
136
00:08:28,066 --> 00:08:30,867
you really start
going backwards.
137
00:08:38,367 --> 00:08:40,767
[Dennis] After
seeing the state
of the crime scene,
138
00:08:40,767 --> 00:08:45,367
Jones feels like
he needs all the help
he can get.
139
00:08:45,367 --> 00:08:48,266
And he reached out
to the Texas Department
of Public Safety
140
00:08:48,266 --> 00:08:51,800
to help collet evidence
at the scene.
141
00:08:51,800 --> 00:08:54,100
[Jones] We didn't
find any weapons.
142
00:08:54,100 --> 00:08:55,867
But near of the floor drains,
143
00:08:55,867 --> 00:08:58,967
we did find a .380 round.
144
00:08:58,967 --> 00:09:02,400
We needed to find out
if they were
sexually assaulted.
145
00:09:02,400 --> 00:09:03,900
So,, we didn't
want them touched
146
00:09:03,900 --> 00:09:06,667
until DPS could get there.
147
00:09:06,667 --> 00:09:10,467
[Dennis] After all four bodies
are swabbed at the scene,
148
00:09:10,467 --> 00:09:12,567
they're released
to the medical examiner,
149
00:09:12,567 --> 00:09:15,166
and transported
to the morgue.
150
00:09:15,166 --> 00:09:18,900
Meanwhile, the police speak
to the manager
of the yogurt shop,
151
00:09:18,900 --> 00:09:22,567
and learn that two
17-year-old girls
152
00:09:22,567 --> 00:09:27,667
Eliza Thomas
and Jennifer Harbison
were working that night.
153
00:09:28,567 --> 00:09:31,867
My parents divorced
soon after I was born
154
00:09:31,867 --> 00:09:33,567
and I was with my dad.
155
00:09:33,567 --> 00:09:35,533
It was maybe 1:00
in the morning.
156
00:09:36,100 --> 00:09:37,367
We were all sleeping
157
00:09:37,367 --> 00:09:41,367
and there's this banging
on the front door
of the house,
158
00:09:41,367 --> 00:09:43,467
[Dennis] The police
tell Eliza's father
159
00:09:43,467 --> 00:09:47,066
that they believe
Eliza is one of the victims.
160
00:09:47,066 --> 00:09:52,233
But they can't be sure
until the autopsy
is completed.
161
00:09:54,500 --> 00:09:57,500
I had never had
the experience
of being without her.
162
00:09:57,500 --> 00:10:01,100
And it was something
I couldn't really wrap
my mind around.
163
00:10:01,100 --> 00:10:03,367
I thought maybe they were
somebody else,
164
00:10:03,367 --> 00:10:05,166
and maybe he was kidnapped.
165
00:10:05,166 --> 00:10:06,867
You think of all kinds of
horrible things
166
00:10:06,867 --> 00:10:09,333
that would have been better
than what the truth was.
167
00:10:11,400 --> 00:10:14,867
My dad's friend
drove us to my mom's house,
168
00:10:14,867 --> 00:10:16,700
with the police.
169
00:10:16,700 --> 00:10:19,000
My mom was pretty hysterical.
170
00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:22,100
[Lowry] At the Harbisons',
Sarah and Jennifer's mother,
171
00:10:22,100 --> 00:10:24,100
Barbara opened the door
172
00:10:24,100 --> 00:10:26,867
and she was asked
about her daughters.
173
00:10:26,867 --> 00:10:29,467
And he aid,
"They are upstairs, asleep."
174
00:10:29,467 --> 00:10:34,867
Because she just assumed
that Amy and Sarah
were in Sarah's room,
175
00:10:34,867 --> 00:10:37,300
and Jennifer was in hers.
176
00:10:37,300 --> 00:10:39,367
[Dennis] But when Barbara
checks the bedrooms,
177
00:10:39,367 --> 00:10:42,400
she discovers that none
of the girls are home.
178
00:10:42,400 --> 00:10:44,867
Including Sarah's friend, Amy.
179
00:10:44,867 --> 00:10:47,767
So the police head over
to Amy's house
180
00:10:47,767 --> 00:10:50,200
to see if she's there.
181
00:10:50,200 --> 00:10:53,100
[Bob Ayers] We had
a knock on the door
at 5:15 in the morning,
182
00:10:53,100 --> 00:10:54,667
and it's the cops,
183
00:10:54,667 --> 00:10:56,934
telling us there was a fire
at the yogurt shop.
184
00:10:58,100 --> 00:11:02,767
They wanted to know
if we were the parents
of...of Amy Ayers.
185
00:11:02,767 --> 00:11:05,634
[Pam] Our life
changed forever,
186
00:11:06,100 --> 00:11:07,433
that one night.
187
00:11:08,600 --> 00:11:11,400
[Dennis] While
the notifications
are underway,
188
00:11:11,400 --> 00:11:15,066
Jones and his team
work through the night,
189
00:11:15,066 --> 00:11:19,600
trying to piece together
what happened.
190
00:11:19,600 --> 00:11:22,266
I thought robbery
was a motive.
191
00:11:22,266 --> 00:11:25,367
Money was taken. 540 bucks.
192
00:11:26,467 --> 00:11:30,467
[Aradillas] The placement
of cleaning supplies
193
00:11:30,467 --> 00:11:32,600
throughout the yogurt shop
194
00:11:32,600 --> 00:11:40,100
indicated that perhaps
their closing procedure
was interrupted.
195
00:11:40,100 --> 00:11:43,000
[Lowry] The police determined
that the four girls
196
00:11:43,000 --> 00:11:46,634
were probably shepherded
into the storage room.
197
00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:52,100
It seems they were made
to take off their clothes.
198
00:11:52,100 --> 00:11:54,867
One of the ways
you control young kids,
199
00:11:54,867 --> 00:11:56,667
and particularly,
young females,
200
00:11:56,667 --> 00:11:58,266
is to strip 'em down.
201
00:11:58,266 --> 00:12:01,667
[Lowry] Then, it seems,
they were forced to kneel,
202
00:12:01,667 --> 00:12:03,166
they were gagged,
203
00:12:03,166 --> 00:12:06,066
and tied up
with their own underwear.
204
00:12:07,667 --> 00:12:09,867
[Dennis] Once the girls
had been tied up,
205
00:12:09,867 --> 00:12:13,700
the perpetrator
could have completed
the robbery and left,
206
00:12:13,700 --> 00:12:16,600
but that's not what happened.
207
00:12:16,600 --> 00:12:19,100
We think, the perpetrator
just panicked
208
00:12:19,100 --> 00:12:20,767
and shot the girls.
209
00:12:24,066 --> 00:12:27,800
And the perpetrator
set the place on fire,
210
00:12:27,800 --> 00:12:32,100
presumably,
to get rid of any evidence.
211
00:12:32,100 --> 00:12:33,800
[Jones] There was
no accelerant.
212
00:12:33,800 --> 00:12:37,266
The fire was started
by paper products,
napkins and such.
213
00:12:37,266 --> 00:12:39,433
They were right there,
next to them, on a shelf.
214
00:12:41,166 --> 00:12:44,166
[Dennis] While the police
are going through
the crime scene,
215
00:12:44,166 --> 00:12:48,166
very meticulously
trying to understand
what occurred,
216
00:12:48,166 --> 00:12:54,367
the medical examiner
is working to officially
identify the victims.
217
00:12:54,367 --> 00:12:57,734
The next day,
I remember having
to go to the police station.
218
00:12:58,567 --> 00:13:01,867
My dad had to bring in
dental samples.
219
00:13:01,867 --> 00:13:05,100
[Dennis] Once
the dental records
are compared to the victim's,
220
00:13:05,100 --> 00:13:09,767
they are officially identified
as Eliza Thomas,
221
00:13:09,767 --> 00:13:12,066
Jennifer and Sarah Harbison,
222
00:13:12,066 --> 00:13:14,200
and Amy Ayers.
223
00:13:14,200 --> 00:13:18,900
Then the swab results
come back from the Texas
Department of Public Safety.
224
00:13:18,900 --> 00:13:23,100
The swabs that DPS gathered
and analyzed,
225
00:13:23,100 --> 00:13:25,367
indicated sexual assault.
226
00:13:25,367 --> 00:13:28,467
DNA from multiple males
is discovered
227
00:13:28,467 --> 00:13:30,967
on the swabs of
17-year-old Jennifer Harbison,
228
00:13:30,967 --> 00:13:33,100
15-year-old Sarah Harbison,
229
00:13:33,100 --> 00:13:36,066
and 13-year-old Amy Ayers.
230
00:13:36,066 --> 00:13:38,567
But not Eliza Thomas.
231
00:13:38,567 --> 00:13:42,800
That told us there had
to be at least
two perpetrators there.
232
00:13:42,800 --> 00:13:47,066
[Dennis] But because
DNA technology
is still in its infancy,
233
00:13:47,066 --> 00:13:49,967
and the bodies
were consumed by fire,
234
00:13:49,967 --> 00:13:51,967
then doused with water,
235
00:13:51,967 --> 00:13:55,166
all the lab can
really decipher is that
236
00:13:55,166 --> 00:13:57,500
the profiles were male.
237
00:13:57,500 --> 00:14:01,100
Police examine
the autopsy results closely,
238
00:14:01,100 --> 00:14:04,667
trying to understand
239
00:14:04,667 --> 00:14:11,266
what could have happened
in those horrific
final moments.
240
00:14:11,266 --> 00:14:14,467
[Jones] They were
all shot in the head
with a .22,
241
00:14:14,467 --> 00:14:16,867
and then the bodies
were all stacked together.
242
00:14:16,867 --> 00:14:20,567
Amy got away.
She crawled away
about ten feet or so.
243
00:14:20,567 --> 00:14:24,634
And then, she was
shot a second time
with a different caliber gun.
244
00:14:28,400 --> 00:14:31,166
Apparently, they were dead
before the fire started.
245
00:14:33,900 --> 00:14:37,000
At the shop,
one piece of evidence
survived the fire.
246
00:14:37,000 --> 00:14:40,100
And could be the key
247
00:14:40,100 --> 00:14:42,567
to who was there that night.
248
00:14:42,567 --> 00:14:45,567
[Lowry] There was of course
a cash register tape
249
00:14:45,567 --> 00:14:48,667
of the transactions
of the night.
250
00:14:48,667 --> 00:14:52,967
And the last one
occurred at 11:03.
251
00:14:52,967 --> 00:14:55,500
[Dennis] Jones and
his team go to work
trying to figure out
252
00:14:55,500 --> 00:14:58,667
who the final customer
was that night.
253
00:14:58,667 --> 00:15:02,467
[Jones] We had gone on
to asking for anybody
254
00:15:02,467 --> 00:15:04,000
that was in that yogurt shop
to come forward.
255
00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:06,700
And a lot of people did.
256
00:15:06,700 --> 00:15:09,000
Police get in touch
with everyone,
257
00:15:09,000 --> 00:15:11,367
who paid with a credit card
the night of the murder.
258
00:15:11,367 --> 00:15:14,867
And dozens of other people
come forward to say
259
00:15:14,867 --> 00:15:17,867
they were there
and paid cash.
260
00:15:17,867 --> 00:15:20,066
Firs thing we did
was take statements from them.
261
00:15:20,066 --> 00:15:21,667
And we thought
we had everybody,
262
00:15:21,667 --> 00:15:24,367
but there were
a couple of guys
that we're seeing that
263
00:15:24,367 --> 00:15:27,667
weren't part of the witnesses
that we knew about.
264
00:15:29,700 --> 00:15:34,567
[Dennis] One couple
that had purchased
frozen yogurt around 10:45 pm,
265
00:15:34,567 --> 00:15:40,100
tell cops about two males
they had seen in the shop.
266
00:15:40,100 --> 00:15:43,300
I'm Carlos Garcia,
and I'm a defense lawyer
in Austin, Texas.
267
00:15:43,300 --> 00:15:47,266
The witness says,
"There were two men
seated behind me.
268
00:15:47,266 --> 00:15:50,467
"They're kinda hunched over,
talking really quietly.
269
00:15:50,467 --> 00:15:52,533
"When we left,
they were still there."
270
00:15:53,667 --> 00:15:56,100
[Aradillas] Another customer,
named Lucilla,
271
00:15:56,100 --> 00:15:59,100
described the boys
as teenagers.
272
00:15:59,100 --> 00:16:04,467
They were white.
Between 5'4" and 5' 7".
273
00:16:04,467 --> 00:16:09,800
And she described them
as wearing puffy
vests or jackets.
274
00:16:09,800 --> 00:16:11,600
And wearing boots and jeans.
275
00:16:11,600 --> 00:16:14,166
One was thin,
one not so thin.
276
00:16:14,166 --> 00:16:17,767
Several customers
also talked about
277
00:16:17,767 --> 00:16:19,967
seeing a Latino man
278
00:16:19,967 --> 00:16:24,867
inside a light-colored
American car.
279
00:16:24,867 --> 00:16:31,066
Just sitting there.
And they were able to
create a composite sketch.
280
00:16:31,900 --> 00:16:34,300
I felt that sounded
like a good lead.
281
00:16:34,300 --> 00:16:35,734
So we looked into it.
282
00:16:36,567 --> 00:16:39,467
While the search
for the killers continues,
283
00:16:39,467 --> 00:16:43,600
a funeral service
at the St. Louis
Catholic Church in Austin
284
00:16:43,600 --> 00:16:47,266
is held for
the four teenage girls.
285
00:16:47,266 --> 00:16:50,600
The funeral was huge,
286
00:16:50,600 --> 00:16:54,266
There were apparently
a thousand people.
287
00:16:54,266 --> 00:16:57,667
[Barbara] The absolute denial
that you could be
missing these people
288
00:16:57,667 --> 00:17:00,467
that your whole life
focused around
for so long,
289
00:17:00,467 --> 00:17:03,967
is just...
There's just not enough
words to express
290
00:17:03,967 --> 00:17:06,066
that devastation.
291
00:17:06,066 --> 00:17:09,200
It was a completely
out of body experience.
292
00:17:09,200 --> 00:17:13,033
Eliza was
my sister and my best friend.
293
00:17:14,266 --> 00:17:17,700
ANd half of me died
when I heard the news.
294
00:17:17,700 --> 00:17:20,066
[Dennis] While
the families grieve,
295
00:17:20,066 --> 00:17:24,166
the Austin Police Department
sets up a tip line.
296
00:17:24,166 --> 00:17:27,400
[Jones] After the second week
that the story
went nationally,
297
00:17:27,400 --> 00:17:30,667
I think we were at
almost 2,500 tips a week.
298
00:17:30,667 --> 00:17:32,867
[Lowry] The city
was crazed by this,
299
00:17:32,867 --> 00:17:36,100
and in great need
of a solution.
300
00:17:36,100 --> 00:17:37,767
"Who killed these girls?"
301
00:17:37,767 --> 00:17:40,100
We felt as lost as ever.
302
00:17:40,100 --> 00:17:43,533
We needed to know
who committed
this crime.
303
00:17:49,767 --> 00:17:51,867
[Aradillas] It had been
more than a week
304
00:17:51,867 --> 00:17:54,100
since the girls
had been murdered,
305
00:17:54,100 --> 00:18:00,166
And it was then
that they thought,
there's a break in the case.
306
00:18:01,000 --> 00:18:04,567
[Lowry] A young man
named Maurice Pierce,
307
00:18:04,567 --> 00:18:06,767
was at Northcross Mall,
308
00:18:06,767 --> 00:18:11,934
when he put his shirt aside
and showed somebody
that he had this gun.
309
00:18:12,700 --> 00:18:15,900
The person
who he showed it to,
310
00:18:15,900 --> 00:18:18,166
got in touch
with the security guard.
311
00:18:18,166 --> 00:18:22,367
The security guard
came and took
the gun from Maurice,
312
00:18:22,367 --> 00:18:25,000
who was only 17.
313
00:18:25,000 --> 00:18:27,567
[Jones] We had
let everybody know,
314
00:18:27,567 --> 00:18:29,400
in the law
enforcement community,
315
00:18:29,400 --> 00:18:33,300
we were looking for
a .380 and a .22.
316
00:18:33,300 --> 00:18:36,166
Maurice had a .22.
317
00:18:36,166 --> 00:18:39,400
As a result
of getting caught
with this gun,
318
00:18:39,400 --> 00:18:43,266
Maurice Pierce gets taken
to the juvenile center,
319
00:18:43,266 --> 00:18:44,867
in Austin, Texas.
320
00:18:44,867 --> 00:18:47,166
Sometime around 11:00,
321
00:18:47,166 --> 00:18:51,500
a police detective began
to interrogate Pierce.
322
00:18:51,500 --> 00:18:57,000
Police learnt that Maurice
was driving around
323
00:18:57,000 --> 00:19:01,467
with three of his buddies,
the night of the 6th.
324
00:19:01,467 --> 00:19:06,066
Forrest Welborn,
Robert Springsteen,
and Michael Scott.
325
00:19:07,066 --> 00:19:09,767
[Dennis] Springsteen,
Scott and Pierce,
326
00:19:09,767 --> 00:19:13,000
are all 17, and attend
McCallum High School
327
00:19:13,000 --> 00:19:16,867
with 15-year-old
Forrest Welborn.
328
00:19:16,867 --> 00:19:20,367
During the interview,
police turn the conversation
to the murders,
329
00:19:20,367 --> 00:19:23,900
and what Maurice Pierce
has to say,
330
00:19:23,900 --> 00:19:27,266
shocks everyone.
331
00:19:27,266 --> 00:19:31,066
[Jones] I got a call
that Maurice Pierce
was confessing.
332
00:19:31,066 --> 00:19:35,066
And I went down to the station
and I interviewed him.
333
00:19:35,066 --> 00:19:38,767
During that interview,
Maurice Pierce indicated that
334
00:19:38,767 --> 00:19:42,700
Forrest Welborn,
Robert Springsteen
and Michael Scott
335
00:19:42,700 --> 00:19:45,367
were with him that night.
336
00:19:45,367 --> 00:19:48,700
And they were the ones
that went inside
the yogurt shop
337
00:19:48,700 --> 00:19:52,266
and committed
the robbery/homicide.
338
00:19:52,266 --> 00:19:53,634
And set it on fire.
339
00:19:56,700 --> 00:20:00,300
But Maurice
did not implicate himself.
340
00:20:00,300 --> 00:20:01,266
in the yogurt shop case
341
00:20:01,266 --> 00:20:04,100
other than that he was
the wheelman.
342
00:20:04,100 --> 00:20:07,467
[Garcia] So, the police talk
to Michael Scott
and Robert Springsteen.
343
00:20:07,467 --> 00:20:10,100
They say, "Look,
we are not involved
in this crime."
344
00:20:10,100 --> 00:20:12,166
They talk about,
on Friday night
345
00:20:12,166 --> 00:20:14,433
they had been at the mall,
they saw the firetrucks.
346
00:20:15,567 --> 00:20:19,166
AT some point,
Maurice Pierce
went to a car lot,
347
00:20:19,867 --> 00:20:22,066
and he steals a car.
348
00:20:22,066 --> 00:20:25,500
And the four of 'em,
headed off to San Antonio
349
00:20:25,500 --> 00:20:27,500
on a joyride
in the stolen car.
350
00:20:27,500 --> 00:20:30,367
[Dennis] With
Scott and Springsteen
putting themselves near
351
00:20:30,367 --> 00:20:32,000
the scene of the crime
that night,
352
00:20:32,000 --> 00:20:36,000
police send Pierce's
.22 caliber firearm
353
00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:37,767
in for ballistics testing.
354
00:20:37,767 --> 00:20:41,467
And then they
turn their attention to
the youngest of the group.
355
00:20:41,467 --> 00:20:43,266
Forrest Welborn.
356
00:20:43,900 --> 00:20:45,700
We actually wired up Maurice,
357
00:20:45,700 --> 00:20:48,900
and he went to talk
to Forrest Welborn.
358
00:20:48,900 --> 00:20:52,767
The idea was to get Forrest
to talk about the crime
359
00:20:52,767 --> 00:20:55,300
and his participation in it.
360
00:20:55,300 --> 00:21:01,266
Together, Maurice and Forrest
go to a laundromat
known as the Washeteria.
361
00:21:01,266 --> 00:21:06,367
And Maurice tries
to get Forrest to talk about
what happened that night.
362
00:21:06,367 --> 00:21:10,967
Forrest doesn't seem
to understand
what Maurice is talking about.
363
00:21:10,967 --> 00:21:13,000
He's trying to go along
with the conversation,
364
00:21:13,000 --> 00:21:17,266
but he's definitely not
confessing to murder.
365
00:21:17,266 --> 00:21:19,900
[Jones] It was pretty obvious
listening on the wire,
to us anyway,
366
00:21:19,900 --> 00:21:22,867
that Forrest didn't have
anything to do with it.
367
00:21:22,867 --> 00:21:27,767
[Dennis] Because the two
DNA profiles found during
the autopsy were incomplete,
368
00:21:27,767 --> 00:21:33,066
police can't test
the boys' DNA
against them for a match.
369
00:21:33,066 --> 00:21:35,567
So, with no concrete evidence,
370
00:21:35,567 --> 00:21:39,166
they begin to doubt
if any of the boys
are involved.
371
00:21:39,166 --> 00:21:43,967
But that changes
when a new piece of
evidence come in,
372
00:21:43,967 --> 00:21:46,800
from one of the witnesses.
373
00:21:46,800 --> 00:21:49,400
[Aradillas]
Police returned to Lucilla,
374
00:21:49,400 --> 00:21:52,667
the woman who had
the best description
of the two guys,
375
00:21:52,667 --> 00:21:54,667
sitting at the table.
376
00:21:54,667 --> 00:21:57,700
They tape her
a six-pack of photos.
377
00:21:57,700 --> 00:22:01,000
And one of them
catches her eye.
378
00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:06,867
She points and says,
"This one resembles on
of the teens that I saw,
379
00:22:06,867 --> 00:22:08,467
"at the yogurt shop."
380
00:22:08,467 --> 00:22:12,867
And it turns out that
that photo is Maurice Pierce.
381
00:22:12,867 --> 00:22:15,100
[Dennis] With a possible
witness identification,
382
00:22:15,100 --> 00:22:19,700
investigators hope
for positive news regarding
the ballistic test...
383
00:22:19,700 --> 00:22:22,867
-[gunshots]
-...from Pierce's .22.
384
00:22:22,867 --> 00:22:24,233
[Garcia] All the grooves
on the--
385
00:22:24,233 --> 00:22:28,667
the bullets that are fired
from Pierce's .22 revolver
are very sharp.
386
00:22:28,667 --> 00:22:31,567
And Pierce's revolver
was fairly new.
387
00:22:31,567 --> 00:22:33,367
When you compare it
to the bullets
388
00:22:33,367 --> 00:22:36,000
that were extracted
from the girls' bodies,
389
00:22:36,000 --> 00:22:39,700
those bullets were fired
by a gun
that appears to be old.
390
00:22:39,700 --> 00:22:42,700
The DPS firearms lab
said, "Nah."
391
00:22:42,700 --> 00:22:46,166
"We can't tie this gun
to the crime scene."
392
00:22:46,166 --> 00:22:49,400
So, all we had, really,
was what Maurice was saying.
393
00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,100
But there wasn't enough
to charge anybody
394
00:22:52,100 --> 00:22:55,066
So, we had nothing.
395
00:22:58,600 --> 00:23:01,500
[Dennis] Then,
in the fall of 1992,
396
00:23:01,500 --> 00:23:04,300
almost a year
after the murders,
397
00:23:04,300 --> 00:23:08,767
tip comes in from within
the Austin police department.
398
00:23:08,767 --> 00:23:11,800
They have a suspected match
for the composite sketch
399
00:23:11,800 --> 00:23:14,200
of the man seen sitting
in a car,
400
00:23:14,200 --> 00:23:16,300
outside the yogurt shop.
401
00:23:16,300 --> 00:23:20,367
[Jones] Austin PD
sex crimes investigators
came up and aid,
402
00:23:20,367 --> 00:23:23,967
"Hey, we have this sketch.
And your guy
looks like our guy."
403
00:23:23,967 --> 00:23:26,200
And we looked at 'em.
404
00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:27,767
And they looked
just like each other.
405
00:23:27,767 --> 00:23:30,100
Sex Crimes said
their sketch was a person
406
00:23:30,100 --> 00:23:32,567
they identified
as Alberto Cortez.
407
00:23:32,567 --> 00:23:35,166
A suspect in
an aggravated sexual assault.
408
00:23:35,667 --> 00:23:38,367
The find out Alberto Cortez,
409
00:23:38,367 --> 00:23:41,567
has been arrested in Mexico.
410
00:23:41,567 --> 00:23:46,200
And that he has confessed
to Mexican authorities,
411
00:23:46,200 --> 00:23:49,834
that he committed the murders
at the yogurt shop.
412
00:23:51,166 --> 00:23:54,266
[Sonora] When my family
heard that someone
was confessing,
413
00:23:54,266 --> 00:23:55,867
we thought,
"Maybe this is it."
414
00:23:55,867 --> 00:23:59,367
And, "Maybe we finally have
some answers."
415
00:23:59,367 --> 00:24:01,500
[Jones] The problem
with this confession
416
00:24:01,500 --> 00:24:06,867
is that Alberto Cortez
is talking about using
a .38 caliber gun in his crime
417
00:24:06,867 --> 00:24:11,100
and pouring white gas
all over the place
and setting it on fire.
418
00:24:11,100 --> 00:24:14,967
Caliber's wrong
and there was no accelerant.
419
00:24:14,967 --> 00:24:17,300
So he cannot be
the one that did it.
420
00:24:17,300 --> 00:24:20,066
And then, strangely enough,
two days later,
421
00:24:20,066 --> 00:24:21,934
he said he was coerced.
422
00:24:25,200 --> 00:24:28,066
As 1992 comes to a close,
423
00:24:28,066 --> 00:24:31,166
the lack of any viable leads
424
00:24:31,166 --> 00:24:35,367
really takes a toll
on the families.
425
00:24:35,367 --> 00:24:37,967
There were no answers
for so long.
426
00:24:37,967 --> 00:24:40,867
I think it just
ate away at my mom.
427
00:24:40,867 --> 00:24:44,667
I think she was really in
so much pain
about it,
428
00:24:44,667 --> 00:24:47,467
You know, that whoever
committed this crime,
429
00:24:47,467 --> 00:24:50,266
was able to just
go about their life.
430
00:24:50,266 --> 00:24:52,900
If they catch him tomorrow,
I say hang him the next day.
431
00:24:52,900 --> 00:24:55,667
They need to suffer.
I'm sorry, but...
432
00:24:55,667 --> 00:24:58,467
We're suffering everyday,
it's...
433
00:24:58,467 --> 00:25:01,066
And it's not getting
any better.
434
00:25:01,066 --> 00:25:04,367
[Aradillas] Years pass,
and every years,
on the anniversary,
435
00:25:04,367 --> 00:25:07,767
there'd be a story about
where does the case stand.
436
00:25:07,767 --> 00:25:10,600
But, really, the story was,
437
00:25:10,600 --> 00:25:14,533
police have not been able
to solve this case.
438
00:25:16,266 --> 00:25:19,200
Then on August 31st, 1999,
439
00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,200
the FBI had developed
a new criminal profile
440
00:25:22,200 --> 00:25:26,100
to help detectives
find a suspect in this case.
441
00:25:26,100 --> 00:25:29,100
And the profile
had the following
descriptions.
442
00:25:29,100 --> 00:25:32,000
The offenders were
young, disorganized.
443
00:25:32,000 --> 00:25:34,700
They would have left town
after the killings.
444
00:25:34,700 --> 00:25:37,367
Austin PD are
immediately reminded
445
00:25:37,367 --> 00:25:39,567
of the four boys
from 1991,
446
00:25:39,567 --> 00:25:42,300
who, at that time,
had told police
447
00:25:42,300 --> 00:25:47,700
they'd stolen a car,
and gone joyriding
in San Antonio.
448
00:25:47,700 --> 00:25:51,467
[Garcia] So,
Maurice Pierce,
young, disorganized.
449
00:25:51,467 --> 00:25:54,367
He picks up Welborn,
Springsteen and Scott,
450
00:25:54,367 --> 00:25:55,767
and they left town sometime
451
00:25:55,767 --> 00:25:58,367
between the night
of the murders
and next morning.
452
00:25:58,367 --> 00:26:00,734
So it all fits
these four guys.
453
00:26:03,000 --> 00:26:05,667
[Dennis] Since being
investigated
nearly eight years ago,
454
00:26:05,667 --> 00:26:08,767
Maurice Pierce has been
working at a warehouse
in Texas.
455
00:26:08,767 --> 00:26:11,266
And he has
a 7-year-old daughter.
456
00:26:11,266 --> 00:26:14,867
Forrest Welborn
has opened
a auto-repair business.
457
00:26:14,867 --> 00:26:19,066
Michael Scott is married
and has been working
repair jobs
458
00:26:19,066 --> 00:26:22,600
and Robert Springsteen
has since moved
to West Virginia,
459
00:26:22,600 --> 00:26:26,667
gotten married
and is the manager
of a McDonald's.
460
00:26:26,667 --> 00:26:29,500
[Lowry] Because of
their behavior that night,
461
00:26:29,500 --> 00:26:33,166
all four guys
were brought in,
and questioned.
462
00:26:33,166 --> 00:26:36,834
Springsteen was questioned
in West Virginia.
463
00:26:38,266 --> 00:26:40,767
[Garcia] Austin
police department
got nowhere with Pierce.
464
00:26:40,767 --> 00:26:42,166
And nowhere with Welborn.
465
00:26:42,166 --> 00:26:44,000
And nowhere with
Robert Springsteen.
466
00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,100
However, over the course
of the next five days,
467
00:26:47,100 --> 00:26:49,467
there's this incredible
interrogation
468
00:26:49,467 --> 00:26:51,166
of Michael Scott
469
00:26:51,166 --> 00:26:53,834
that ends up
with him confessing.
470
00:27:32,967 --> 00:27:38,934
Scott was questioned
for about 22 hours total.
471
00:27:39,767 --> 00:27:42,667
His testimony began
472
00:27:42,667 --> 00:27:45,567
with, "I don't know
what you guys
are talking about."
473
00:27:53,367 --> 00:27:57,567
Then, finally, he said,
"Yes, I did that."
474
00:28:05,600 --> 00:28:07,667
After Michael Scott confesses,
475
00:28:07,667 --> 00:28:10,900
the Austin police
use his confession
476
00:28:10,900 --> 00:28:12,767
against Robert Springsteen
477
00:28:12,767 --> 00:28:15,800
who, then, also confesses.
478
00:28:15,800 --> 00:28:19,166
Soon, all four men
are arrested.
479
00:28:19,166 --> 00:28:20,967
[officer] Early this morning
the Austin police department
480
00:28:20,967 --> 00:28:23,200
with assistance from other
law enforcement agencies,
481
00:28:23,200 --> 00:28:26,166
served four arrest warrants
charging four individuals
482
00:28:26,166 --> 00:28:27,500
with capital murder.
483
00:28:27,500 --> 00:28:31,266
I was kind of shocked.
I think we had gotten
our hopes up before.
484
00:28:31,266 --> 00:28:34,367
And so, there was
a question about,
485
00:28:34,367 --> 00:28:38,500
"Are these real confessions?"
486
00:28:38,500 --> 00:28:41,800
[Dennis] After getting
confessions
from Springsteen and Scott,
487
00:28:41,800 --> 00:28:45,100
police continue to try
and elicit a confession
488
00:28:45,100 --> 00:28:47,600
from Welborn and Pierce.
489
00:28:47,600 --> 00:28:51,367
Forrest Welborn
kept saying, " I don't know
what you're talking about.
490
00:28:51,367 --> 00:28:53,900
"I wasn't there.
I didn't do this."
491
00:28:53,900 --> 00:28:58,100
My name is Tony Diaz.
I'm a defense attorney
in Austin, Texas.
492
00:28:58,100 --> 00:29:00,166
Forrest had
a very fine lawyer,
493
00:29:00,166 --> 00:29:02,400
and they were helping him
with that early stage.
494
00:29:02,400 --> 00:29:04,400
And so, they did not
prosecute him
495
00:29:04,400 --> 00:29:07,567
because they had no case,
no evidence.
496
00:29:07,567 --> 00:29:10,700
[Lowry] Maurice Pierce,
the person who had the .22,
497
00:29:10,700 --> 00:29:13,500
was also questioned.
498
00:29:13,500 --> 00:29:17,834
But they could not find
evidence that
connected him either.
499
00:29:20,667 --> 00:29:22,867
[Dennis] After three
and a half years of searching
500
00:29:22,867 --> 00:29:25,700
for hard evidence
to connect the boys
to the case,
501
00:29:25,700 --> 00:29:27,367
police have nothing.
502
00:29:27,367 --> 00:29:33,100
So, the Austin DA
dismissed the charges
against Pierce and Welborn.
503
00:29:33,100 --> 00:29:35,266
Leaving only two defendants.
504
00:29:35,266 --> 00:29:37,500
[Lowry] The two guys
that confessed,
505
00:29:37,500 --> 00:29:42,467
Rob Springsteen
and Michael Scott
were tried.
506
00:29:42,467 --> 00:29:46,567
As a capital case
with a potential
death sentence
507
00:29:46,567 --> 00:29:50,166
hanging over them
for killing the four girls.
508
00:29:50,166 --> 00:29:53,567
I'm Judge Mike Lynch
and I was the trial judge
509
00:29:53,567 --> 00:29:55,934
in both
the yogurt shop trials.
510
00:29:56,767 --> 00:29:59,667
The bulk of the case
against each defendant
511
00:29:59,667 --> 00:30:02,166
was their own confessions.
512
00:30:02,166 --> 00:30:05,166
Springsteen
was the first guy
to be tried.
513
00:30:05,166 --> 00:30:07,700
I vaguely remember
being there.
514
00:30:07,700 --> 00:30:11,166
But I remember thinking,
"Oh, they're just people."
515
00:30:11,867 --> 00:30:15,867
You think about
this heinous crime,
516
00:30:15,867 --> 00:30:18,367
and then, like,
somebody walks in,
517
00:30:18,367 --> 00:30:21,567
two arms, two legs,
this is so strange.
518
00:30:23,166 --> 00:30:25,967
Robert Springsteen recants.
519
00:30:25,967 --> 00:30:28,100
And say that he was coerced
520
00:30:28,100 --> 00:30:32,367
and that, in fact,
he did not commit
these crimes.
521
00:30:32,367 --> 00:30:36,700
The defense filed a motion
claiming that Springsteen's
confession was coerced,
522
00:30:36,700 --> 00:30:38,266
and therefore false.
523
00:30:38,266 --> 00:30:40,800
And it should be ruled
inadmissible.
524
00:30:40,800 --> 00:30:43,967
But it wasn't my job
to determine whether or not
525
00:30:43,967 --> 00:30:46,867
the statement
was true or untrue.
526
00:30:46,867 --> 00:30:49,500
That was up to a jury.
527
00:30:49,500 --> 00:30:52,000
And I determined in this case
his confession
528
00:30:52,000 --> 00:30:55,567
and Michael Scott's statement
was admissible.
529
00:30:55,567 --> 00:31:00,266
During the case
against Robbie Springsteen,
the jury was buying the guilt.
530
00:31:00,266 --> 00:31:02,867
Until they allowed
the testimony
531
00:31:02,867 --> 00:31:05,767
and the transcripts
from the statement
that Michael Scott made,
532
00:31:05,767 --> 00:31:09,233
and that's
where their decision
probably had been made.
533
00:31:17,100 --> 00:31:19,166
I did see
the reaction of the jury.
534
00:31:19,166 --> 00:31:22,567
To me, what I saw,
was not gonna be a good thing.
535
00:31:22,567 --> 00:31:25,100
Robert Springsteen
was found guilty
536
00:31:25,100 --> 00:31:26,767
and given the death penalty.
537
00:31:28,300 --> 00:31:30,867
Mike Scott was then tried.
538
00:31:30,867 --> 00:31:34,467
[Dennis] Scott's trial
starts in September of 2002.
539
00:31:34,467 --> 00:31:36,967
And just like Springsteen,
540
00:31:36,967 --> 00:31:42,266
Scott claims
that his confession
was coerced.
541
00:31:42,266 --> 00:31:46,567
[Garcia] Michael Scott
was interrogated
on September the 9th, 1999.
542
00:31:46,567 --> 00:31:49,166
He was interrogated
over five days.
543
00:31:49,166 --> 00:31:54,400
And the crucial part of
Michael Scott's interrogation
is that first day.
544
00:31:54,400 --> 00:31:56,767
This is when
all the bad stuff happens.
545
00:31:56,767 --> 00:31:59,600
What I am referring to
is the Reid technique.
546
00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:02,166
The Reid technique
is infamous, if you will,
547
00:32:02,166 --> 00:32:05,867
interrogation methods
that can get
false confessions from people.
548
00:32:05,867 --> 00:32:09,367
It's very simple.
I'm going to accuse you first,
549
00:32:09,367 --> 00:32:11,600
that I know you
committed the crime.
550
00:32:11,600 --> 00:32:13,900
You're cornered.
You cannot get out.
551
00:32:13,900 --> 00:32:16,467
And the one thing
that saves you is to confess.
552
00:32:16,467 --> 00:32:19,066
Over the course
of the next five days,
553
00:32:19,066 --> 00:32:21,667
they write
the confession for him,
and he signs off on it.
554
00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:58,066
It's like 20 questions.
And, finally, he said,
555
00:32:58,066 --> 00:32:59,667
"Their clothes?"
556
00:32:59,667 --> 00:33:01,233
"Now, you got it Michael."
557
00:33:10,767 --> 00:33:14,767
This is absurd
that this served to prove
558
00:33:14,767 --> 00:33:17,567
somebody committed a murder.
559
00:33:17,567 --> 00:33:21,767
The defense tried to counter
Scott's own statement.
560
00:33:21,767 --> 00:33:24,100
When we went to trial,
the legal strategy was
561
00:33:24,100 --> 00:33:25,567
to compare the confession,
562
00:33:25,567 --> 00:33:28,300
to the crime scene
and show how it did not fit.
563
00:33:28,300 --> 00:33:30,500
For example,
there is a back room,
564
00:33:30,500 --> 00:33:31,900
where the murders happened.
565
00:33:31,900 --> 00:33:33,967
He makes
all the action happen,
566
00:33:33,967 --> 00:33:35,567
behind the cash register area.
567
00:33:35,567 --> 00:33:38,000
So, it's not matching up.
568
00:33:38,000 --> 00:33:40,767
[Dennis] Despite the defense
doing its best,
569
00:33:40,767 --> 00:33:44,266
to negate Michael Scott's
own confession,
570
00:33:44,266 --> 00:33:45,667
he's found guilty.
571
00:33:45,667 --> 00:33:48,166
And is sentenced
to life in prison.
572
00:33:50,767 --> 00:33:54,000
We didn't have a jury
willing to take a look
at those details and say,
573
00:33:54,000 --> 00:33:56,467
"You know what,
that's reasonable doubt."
574
00:33:56,467 --> 00:34:00,867
When you look at those bodies
of those little girls,
that overwhelms anything.
575
00:34:00,867 --> 00:34:02,667
Somebody's gotta pay.
576
00:34:03,266 --> 00:34:05,333
And these boys paid.
577
00:34:06,767 --> 00:34:12,166
For the victims' families
this really feels like justice
has finally been served.
578
00:34:13,867 --> 00:34:17,367
They both confessed,
at great distance
from each other,
579
00:34:17,367 --> 00:34:18,367
on their own.
580
00:34:18,367 --> 00:34:20,567
Their stories
were very similar.
581
00:34:20,567 --> 00:34:24,867
And with that,
they were found guilty.
582
00:34:25,200 --> 00:34:26,767
I was happy.
583
00:34:26,767 --> 00:34:31,967
People finally felt
that justice was being served
584
00:34:31,967 --> 00:34:36,734
for a crime
that has hung over the city
585
00:34:37,200 --> 00:34:39,700
for nearly a decade.
586
00:34:39,700 --> 00:34:42,266
There was relief
that came with it.
587
00:34:42,266 --> 00:34:47,100
Even though,
there's more questions
than answers in this case.
588
00:34:47,100 --> 00:34:50,667
However, their relief
is short-lived.
589
00:34:50,667 --> 00:34:53,066
Springsteen's case
appeals automatically.
590
00:34:53,066 --> 00:34:56,100
And Scott's lawyers file
an appeal as well.
591
00:34:56,100 --> 00:34:58,367
And the attorneys
for both men
592
00:34:58,367 --> 00:35:00,467
are arguing that
593
00:35:00,467 --> 00:35:04,000
their sixth amendment rights
were violated,
594
00:35:04,000 --> 00:35:09,066
because co-conspirators'
confessions were
allowed in the case.
595
00:35:09,066 --> 00:35:12,567
In 2004, Supreme Court,
at that time, said,
596
00:35:12,567 --> 00:35:15,700
"We're gonna make
a hard and fast rule.
597
00:35:15,700 --> 00:35:19,400
"Statements made
to police authorities,
598
00:35:19,400 --> 00:35:21,900
during questioning
by co-defendants
599
00:35:21,900 --> 00:35:24,600
are hereby unreliable
and inadmissible.
600
00:35:24,600 --> 00:35:26,967
Because generally speaking,
601
00:35:26,967 --> 00:35:30,600
a co-defendant
will be trying to
602
00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:32,266
maybe make an admission
603
00:35:32,266 --> 00:35:36,700
but put most of the guilt
off on the other party.
604
00:35:36,700 --> 00:35:40,166
And so, the cases
were reversed on that point.
605
00:35:40,166 --> 00:35:42,400
And sent back
for a new trial.
606
00:35:42,400 --> 00:35:47,500
So, the judge told
the District Attorney,
607
00:35:47,500 --> 00:35:51,000
"You have to come up
with a new case.
608
00:35:51,000 --> 00:35:53,467
"You can't use
the confessions."
609
00:35:53,467 --> 00:35:55,300
[Dennis] For the next
three and a half years,
610
00:35:55,300 --> 00:35:57,867
while Scott and Springsteen
remain in prison,
611
00:35:57,867 --> 00:36:01,467
prosecutors delay motions
for a new trial.
612
00:36:01,467 --> 00:36:05,667
Until finally,
in March 2008,
613
00:36:05,667 --> 00:36:08,500
when there is
a stunning revelation,
614
00:36:08,500 --> 00:36:12,066
due to the advancement
of DNA technology.
615
00:36:12,066 --> 00:36:16,033
We got called to go up
to Judge Lynch's office.
616
00:36:17,100 --> 00:36:19,166
I remember thinking,
"Oh, my gosh,
617
00:36:19,166 --> 00:36:21,333
"like-- what are you saying?"
618
00:36:28,667 --> 00:36:32,667
Male DNA profiles
have always been present
on the vaginal swabs
619
00:36:32,667 --> 00:36:36,967
but it isn't until
technology advances,
in 2008,
620
00:36:36,967 --> 00:36:40,400
that the police
can retest the swabs,
621
00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:44,166
and they are thrilled
when, out of
the two partial profiles,
622
00:36:44,166 --> 00:36:46,000
discovered in 1991,
623
00:36:46,000 --> 00:36:50,867
one actually comes back
as a complete
DNA profile this time.
624
00:36:50,867 --> 00:36:55,266
So, the police took
DNA samples from the boys.
625
00:36:55,266 --> 00:36:59,266
[Dennis] Thinking,
this will finally be
the smoking gun,
626
00:36:59,266 --> 00:37:02,200
that the DA
and the Austin police
have been looking for
627
00:37:02,200 --> 00:37:04,533
for the past 20 years...
628
00:37:04,967 --> 00:37:06,867
They compare the profile
629
00:37:06,867 --> 00:37:09,867
to the profiles
of the four men.
630
00:37:09,867 --> 00:37:14,166
But the results are shocking.
631
00:37:14,166 --> 00:37:17,400
[Diaz] Those boys
had given their samples.
632
00:37:17,400 --> 00:37:20,367
And they had run them against
the full DNA profile
633
00:37:20,367 --> 00:37:21,900
and they were not a match.
634
00:37:21,900 --> 00:37:24,066
They excluded all the boys.
635
00:37:25,000 --> 00:37:26,533
All four of the boys.
636
00:37:28,166 --> 00:37:33,233
It showed that
none of the guys
who had been arrested
637
00:37:33,567 --> 00:37:35,066
were involved.
638
00:37:36,000 --> 00:37:39,667
All of a sudden,
on TV I see,
the district attorney.
639
00:37:39,667 --> 00:37:42,166
And she says,
"We're gonna drop the case,
640
00:37:42,166 --> 00:37:43,567
"We're not gonna
prosecute them."
641
00:37:43,567 --> 00:37:46,100
I could not,
in good conscience,
642
00:37:46,100 --> 00:37:47,967
allow this case
to go to trial.
643
00:37:47,967 --> 00:37:50,266
before the identity
of the male donor
644
00:37:50,266 --> 00:37:51,433
in determined.
645
00:37:52,100 --> 00:37:54,100
And the full truth is known.
646
00:37:54,100 --> 00:37:56,533
That day that the boys
were let out was...
647
00:37:57,567 --> 00:37:59,667
...very upsetting.
648
00:37:59,667 --> 00:38:02,166
Because I still don't know
the people that did this.
649
00:38:02,166 --> 00:38:04,000
[Pam] I feel like
every time we think
650
00:38:04,000 --> 00:38:05,567
we've made
a little bit of headway,
651
00:38:05,567 --> 00:38:07,800
we take steps backwards.
652
00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:11,100
[Dennis] Authorities then
run the DNA profiles
through CODIS,
653
00:38:11,100 --> 00:38:15,100
hoping for a match,
but unfortunately,
there isn't one.
654
00:38:15,100 --> 00:38:18,400
And the case goes cold.
655
00:38:18,400 --> 00:38:20,367
Thirty-two years later,
656
00:38:20,367 --> 00:38:24,000
the yogurt shop case
remains unsolved.
657
00:38:24,000 --> 00:38:27,266
[Aradillas] I feel like
police put all their eggs
in one basket,
658
00:38:27,266 --> 00:38:29,567
and really focused
659
00:38:29,567 --> 00:38:32,367
on these four guys.
660
00:38:32,367 --> 00:38:36,767
But nothing about them
connects them to the crime.
661
00:38:37,700 --> 00:38:41,000
And it's unbelievable that
662
00:38:41,000 --> 00:38:43,533
we still don't have an answer.
663
00:38:44,967 --> 00:38:47,166
The only way
this case will ever be solved,
664
00:38:47,166 --> 00:38:49,567
is to start from scratch.
665
00:38:49,567 --> 00:38:51,967
You know
that the witness
in this yogurt shop
666
00:38:51,967 --> 00:38:55,367
says, "There were two men,
seated behind me.
667
00:38:55,367 --> 00:38:57,533
"When we left,
they were still there."
668
00:38:58,166 --> 00:39:00,300
Just about
every single customer
669
00:39:00,300 --> 00:39:01,967
came in to give
a statement.
670
00:39:02,467 --> 00:39:04,166
Except for two.
671
00:39:05,000 --> 00:39:07,533
Where are those statements?
Who are they?
672
00:39:08,467 --> 00:39:12,800
You can make a case
for couple leaving,
673
00:39:12,800 --> 00:39:14,500
the two guys there.
674
00:39:14,500 --> 00:39:17,533
One of the gets up,
he pulls out a gun.
675
00:39:19,200 --> 00:39:21,266
And the whole thing begins.
676
00:39:22,500 --> 00:39:24,567
[Garcia] So when you find
those two guys,
677
00:39:25,166 --> 00:39:26,967
the DNA is going to match.
678
00:39:26,967 --> 00:39:27,934
Very simple.
679
00:39:28,767 --> 00:39:31,400
In the meantime,
the victims' families
680
00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:35,166
are left still trying
to understand,
681
00:39:35,166 --> 00:39:37,767
what exactly happened
682
00:39:37,767 --> 00:39:41,567
to Eliza, Jennifer, Sarah
and Amy.
683
00:39:43,000 --> 00:39:45,166
My dad thinks a lot
about that night.
684
00:39:45,166 --> 00:39:49,367
He thinks a lot
about seeing her
that last time.
685
00:39:49,367 --> 00:39:54,166
Things he wished
he could have said,
or done differently.
686
00:39:54,166 --> 00:39:57,100
I think we're all plagued
with what-ifs.
687
00:39:57,100 --> 00:39:59,467
"What if we had done this
or what if we had done that?"
688
00:40:02,700 --> 00:40:05,867
[Jones] Whether solved
or not, it will always
be a part of me.
689
00:40:05,867 --> 00:40:08,567
I don't care how many times
I gotta recount it.
690
00:40:08,567 --> 00:40:10,834
It sticks with me
all the time.
691
00:40:12,700 --> 00:40:16,867
It just haunted
anybody who had
anything to do with it.
692
00:40:16,867 --> 00:40:20,000
[Sonora] I have lost
a lot of memories
of my sister.
693
00:40:20,000 --> 00:40:22,100
t's been so painful
to talk about her.
694
00:40:22,100 --> 00:40:24,433
that we don't talk about her.
695
00:40:25,600 --> 00:40:28,000
But Eliza kept a journal.
696
00:40:28,000 --> 00:40:32,467
That's taken me about 30 years
to be able to look
at the journals.
697
00:40:32,467 --> 00:40:35,500
But when I started
reading them, last year,
698
00:40:35,500 --> 00:40:37,467
it was kind of a connection,
699
00:40:37,467 --> 00:40:39,166
that I felt with her.
700
00:40:39,166 --> 00:40:41,166
[girl] There's Eliza!
701
00:40:41,166 --> 00:40:43,867
Just to remember
this, kinda,
carefree teenager.
702
00:40:48,667 --> 00:40:50,634
[Bob] Everybody says,
"You'll be better with time."
703
00:40:50,867 --> 00:40:52,433
Uh-uh.
704
00:40:52,867 --> 00:40:55,367
It don't get no better.
705
00:40:55,367 --> 00:40:59,066
[Pam] We owe ourselves
as a community
a resolution to this case.
706
00:40:59,967 --> 00:41:02,867
[Sonora] My mom died in 2015.
707
00:41:02,867 --> 00:41:06,767
She felt that it was important
that we keep talking
708
00:41:06,767 --> 00:41:09,233
about what happened
to Eliza.
709
00:41:11,467 --> 00:41:17,000
My family--
the rest of the family
still hope that
710
00:41:17,000 --> 00:41:19,567
there may be
some pieces of information
711
00:41:19,567 --> 00:41:21,166
that will come forward,
712
00:41:21,166 --> 00:41:23,500
and that things
will be solved.
713
00:41:23,500 --> 00:41:25,367
And I think there is hope,
714
00:41:25,367 --> 00:41:28,166
that we'll finally have
some answers.
715
00:41:29,000 --> 00:41:31,634
I will not die
until this is solved.
716
00:41:33,500 --> 00:41:35,233
That's my little girl.
717
00:41:36,700 --> 00:41:38,300
And I want justice.