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Family of exonerated man in Texas yogurt shop murders speaks out after settlement #shorts

June 28, 2026 / 01:33

This episode discusses the yogurt shop murders, the wrongful accusations of Maurice Pierce and three others, and the recent exoneration and settlement from the city of Austin.

Marissa Pierce shares her father's story, highlighting the injustice faced by Maurice Pierce and his peers who were wrongfully accused in the 1991 murders of four teenage girls: Eliza Thomas, Amy Heirs, and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison.

After nearly 35 years, the Austin Police Department linked another man to the crimes, leading to the exoneration of the accused men. The city of Austin has offered a $35 million settlement to be divided among them.

Marissa emphasizes that the settlement feels like blood money, stating that the focus should be on reform and preventing similar injustices in the future.

The episode reflects on the impact of these events on both the victims and the wrongfully accused, underscoring the need for systemic change in the justice system.

TLDR

Marissa Pierce discusses her father's wrongful conviction in the yogurt shop murders and the recent settlement from Austin.

Episode

1:33
00:00:00
The phrase most often associated with justice, the principle meant to anchor the system
00:00:07
is innocent until proven guilty. But for my father and three of his peers, that principle did not exist.
00:00:15
>> That's Marissa Pierce speaking about her late father, Maurice Pierce. Pierce was
00:00:20
one of four men originally suspected in the 1991 murders of four teenage girls, Eliza Thomas, Amy Heirs, and sisters
00:00:30
Jennifer and Sarah Harbison. The case has for years become known as the yogurt shop murders. Nearly 35 years later, all
00:00:40
four men were declared innocent and exonerated after the Austin Police Department tied another man to the
00:00:47
crimes. And now the city of Austin has made an offer of $35 million to be split amongst the wrongfully accused men,
00:00:57
including the family of Maurice Pierce, who died before this settlement was reached.
00:01:04
>> It's blood money for us. He he died for this money. So really, it was never about the money for us. It was about the
00:01:11
reform and the changes that need to happen, not only in Austin, but apparently across the country. This is a
00:01:17
story about eight victims. The four girls who were killed at the yogurt shop and the four boys who were wrongfully
00:01:26
accused of killing them.

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Episode Highlights

  • The Yogurt Shop Murders
    A case of wrongful conviction that haunted a community for decades.
    “Nearly 35 years later, all four men were declared innocent.”
    @ 00m 40s
    June 28, 2026
  • Settlement for Wrongfully Accused
    Austin offers $35 million to the wrongfully accused men and their families.
    “It's blood money for us.”
    @ 01m 04s
    June 28, 2026

Episode Quotes

  • It's blood money for us.
    Family of exonerated man in Texas yogurt shop murders speaks out after settlement #shorts
  • It was about the reform and the changes that need to happen.
    Family of exonerated man in Texas yogurt shop murders speaks out after settlement #shorts

Key Moments

  • Innocent Until Proven Guilty00:07
  • Wrongful Conviction00:11
  • Settlement Announcement00:50
  • Call for Reform01:12