FOR THREE DECADES, THE BRUTAL MURDERS OF FOUR TEENAGE GIRLS HAVE HAUNTED AUSTIN, TEXAS - COULD NEW INFORMATION LEAD TO THEIR KILLER?

"48 Hours" Investigates in "The Yogurt Shop Murders"

Three decades ago, four teenage girls were brutally murdered in a yogurt shop in Austin, Texas. The horrific crime has haunted their families, the city, and the investigators who chased every lead in the case to a dead end. Could new information finally help solve the case? 48 HOURS and correspondent Erin Moriarty have been reporting on this case from the beginning and investigate the latest developments in "The Yogurt Shop Murders," to be broadcast Saturday, Feb. 5 on the CBS Television Network and streamed on Paramount+.

"I can see them, I can still see the inside of that place," says John Jones, the first investigator on the case, now retired from the Austin Police Department. "That stuff's ... indelibly burned in my mind."

The story starts on Dec. 6, 1991, when Eliza Thomas, Sarah and Jennifer Harbison and Amy Ayers were tied up and shot. The yogurt shop was then set on fire. For decades, investigators worked to find suspects. There were eventually arrests and even convictions. But those convictions were overturned, leaving the case unsolved today.

"There is a kind of torture that continues by the fact that it's unsolved and it's ongoing," says Sonora Thomas, who was 13 when her sister Eliza was killed.

"It's always there," says Jones.

There may be some positive news, however. A small sample of male DNA was found on one of the victims. With DNA research advancing, investigators hope there will be a match that solves the case.

"Do you believe that there is right now, some evidence that could lead to the killers?" Moriarty asks Texas defense attorney Joe James Sawyer.

"Yes," Sawyer says.

"Is this the end of the beginning or the beginning of the end?" Jones asks.

48 HOURS and Moriarty go inside the investigation and report the case through the eyes of those who live it - the families, the investigators and more.

48 HOURS: "The Yogurt Shop Murders" is produced by Ruth Chenetz, Stephanie Slifer and Anthony Venditti. Michael McHugh is the producer-editor. Marlon Disla and Michelle Harris are the editors. Patti Aronofsky is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the executive story editor. Judy Tygard is the executive producer.

48 HOURS is broadcast Saturdays at 10:00 PM, ET/PT, on CBS, and streams anytime on Paramount+. There's also a new way to watch 48 HOURS. You'll find us on the CBS News Streaming Network Wednesdays at 8:00 PM, ET. Download the CBS News app on your cellphone or connected TV. Follow 48 HOURS on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. Listen to podcasts at CBSAudio.