ASAN (KXAN) – after 34 years, the Austin Police Administration announced on Friday that it had linked the suspect to kill four girls who were found inside a burning company in 1991. The accident was later known as “the killing of the yogurt store”.
The suspect was identified as Robert Eugene Brashers, who committed suicide in 1999. The police said it was identified through the DNA test and projectile.
Prarshs was tied to the 17 -year -old Eliza Thomas death, 17 -year -old Jennifer Harbison, Sarah, Sarah, 13 -year -old Amy Aires.
In 2024, KXan communicated with APD and tracked DNA test technology that you use in cases such as murders in the yogurt.
APD said he had no written guidelines about when to use the science of investigative genealogy.
APD said: “We are working with scientists in our cases management unit to decode them if we have enough DNA to perform genetic genealogy.” “It is not simple as the presence of a Codis profile and its transfer to genetic genealogy. There must be enough genetic materials to obtain a genetic genealogical profile criminal investigation of its use.”
According to the administration, if it has enough genetic materials, a profile is created and used against GEDMATCH and another database, which is used by genetic genealogists to build family trees.
APD said it had previously used genetic genealogy to successfully solve cases.
Regarding the case of killing the yogurt store, APD said it uses the latest scientific developments in its investigations.
The department said it prefers state laboratories instead of private laboratories as a cost effective.
APD said it works with the University of North Texas to provide genetic genealogy for identification purposes, but the department also worked with special laboratories, such as Bodi and DLI, for genetic genealogy services.
After the audience’s offers to raise money to provide a test of the Yogurt Shop killing case, APD said it is a funding that it uses for the test in its cases.
While the administration said it had no specific number of times that the science was used, killings were resolved by using genetic genealogy.
“We will continue to use it when we can as another tool in our toolbox. Genetic genealogy can also be used with” fresh “DNA from the crime scenes that were just committed, when there are no other strands to continue. It is not used specifically in cold cases.”
Avery Travis and Brianna Hollis of KXAN contributed to this report.