“It’s blood money”: Family of exonerated man in Texas yogurt shop murders speaks out after settlement
"It's blood money": Family of Exonerated Man in Texas Yogurt Shop Murders Speaks Out After Settlement
It s blood money - Kimberli and Marisa Pierce, the wife and daughter of Maurice Pierce, have confirmed their acceptance of a substantial settlement from Austin, Texas. Maurice was among four men wrongfully accused in the 1991 yogurt shop murders, a case that shook the city decades ago.
Podcast Interview Highlights Family's Priorities
During a recent episode of the podcast "48 Hours: Case by Case," Kimberli and Marisa Pierce shared their story with correspondent Erin Moriarty. Moriarty has been investigating the yogurt shop murders for over 30 years, providing a deep dive into the case’s history.
“Blood money for us. He died for this money,” Kimberli Pierce said, emphasizing that their main goal was never financial gain. “It’s about the reform and the changes that need to happen, not only in Austin, but apparently across the country.”
The family detailed their belief in the events leading to Maurice’s death in 2010. At the time, Maurice was shot by an Austin police officer during a traffic stop, who claimed he had stabbed the officer with a knife. The incident occurred eight years after the 1991 murders, which claimed the lives of four teenagers: Eliza Thomas, Amy Ayers, and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison. These victims were tied up, shot, and left inside the yogurt shop before it was set on fire.
Maurice’s exoneration came in February after investigators linked Robert Eugene Brashers, another man, to the crimes. The city of Austin then offered a $35 million settlement, with Maurice’s share of $10 million going to his widow and daughter following his 2010 death. The family now seeks to use the funds as a step toward broader justice.
Timeline of the 1991 Case and Its Aftermath
In December 1991, 16-year-old Maurice Pierce was arrested at a mall, accused of carrying the .22 caliber handgun tied to the murders. Police told him the weapon was the murder tool, though he pointed to his friend Forrest Welborn as a possible link. He was then placed on a wire to speak with Welborn, but evidence later showed the men knew nothing about the killings, and no charges were filed.
Eight years later, in 1999, the four men were arrested after Michael Scott and Robert Springsteen confessed. However, they later recanted, stating they had been forced to admit guilt. Springsteen and Scott were convicted but had their sentences overturned on constitutional grounds. A subsequent DNA test cleared all four, proving their innocence. Maurice spent three years in jail before being released in 2003, but Kimberli Pierce described him as a hardened man after his ordeal.
Following his release, the family claims police continued to harass them. In 2010, Maurice was killed during a routine traffic stop, fleeing on foot and being shot by an officer. Marisa Pierce revealed emotional details about the moment: she was on the phone with her father, who she believes panicked and simply wanted to escape, not to harm anyone. “And in those last moments, he had just said, ‘I'm sorry, I don't think you're gonna see me again, and I love you,’” she recounted.
Proposed Reforms and Call for Systemic Change
The Pierces have outlined seven proposed reforms they hope Austin will adopt, including measures to protect minors during interrogations, ban misleading tactics, and ensure accountability in police investigations. In a statement shared with "48 Hours," they wrote: “Real justice is not only about acknowledging harm after the fact but about creating safeguards that prevent future families from enduring the same pain.”
While the settlement marks progress, the family sees it as a beginning. They continue to push for systemic reforms to address the flaws that led to Maurice’s wrongful conviction and tragic death.