Shivangi Sinha
In December 1991, Pam and Bob Ayers were devastated when they learned their daughter Amy Ayers had been killed. The once warm and peaceful home they had built suddenly felt shattered. From that moment, they tirelessly sought justice for Amy, not realizing how difficult and elusive the answers would be. Amy’s brother, Shawn Ayers, and his wife, Angie, have also been outspoken advocates and have continued the family’s fight for accountability. In HBO Max’s ‘The Yogurt Shop Murders,’ all four shared their experiences and what the pursuit of justice truly means to them.
Amy Ayers’ Family Attended Every Court Hearing Hoping For Answers
Pam and Bob Ayers were raising their two children, Amy and Shawn Ayers, in Austin, Texas. They had done everything to give them a good life at their ranch and were proud of their accomplishments and the people they were becoming. They knew Amy had a special love for animals, especially horses, and supported her dream of becoming a veterinarian. On December 6, 1991, when Amy told them she was going out with her friend Sarah Harbison, they thought little of it. She explained they’d visit North Cross Mall, then Jennifer Harbison, Sarah’s sister, would pick them up after her shift at I Can’t Believe It’s Yogurt and drive them home.
Pam never saw her 13-year-old daughter Amy again after she said she’d be back soon. Just after midnight, the family received the call that Amy had been killed. She had been inside the yogurt shop with Eliza Thomas, and sisters Jennifer and Sarah Harbison, when, after 11 pm, unknown assailants entered, bound them, shot them, and set the store on fire. Amy was shot twice, and her body was discovered in a different section of the shop than the others, leading investigators to believe she may have tried to escape. For her brother Shawn, the violent loss of Amy was impossible to process.
The case stretched on for years, with Maurice Pierce, Forrest Welborn, Rob Springsteen, and Michael Scott named as suspects. Charges against Pierce and Welborn were dropped before trial, but Pam and Bob faithfully attended every hearing, including the 2001 and 2002 trials of Springsteen and Scott. Though advised not to remain in court when crime scene details were presented, they felt compelled to witness the proceedings. In 2006 and 2008, the convictions were overturned, and by 2009, both men were freed. Amy’s family has continually sought justice and closure, but no further arrests or progress have followed.
Pam and Bob Ayers Are Reminded of Their Daughter in the Little Things
Pam and Bob Ayers have remained steadfast in their pursuit of justice for their daughter, keeping her memory alive while demanding answers from the authorities. Over the years, they have been vocal in front of the media, making several pleas to investigators, lawmakers, and those in positions of power to bring closure to a case that has haunted and devastated not just their own family, but also the families of the other three girls for decades. Bob has often spoken about how he lost the chance to share the milestones of life with his daughter and described her as a true “Daddy’s girl.” The weight of that loss, he has said, is something that can never be healed. Pam, meanwhile, has expressed her frustration that those responsible for such a horrific crime have never been held accountable and may be living normal lives, while hers was irreversibly altered.
Today, the Ayers family lives quietly, most likely at their longtime ranch in Texas, surrounded by nature and their two beloved grandchildren who bring them joy. Although they prefer to stay private, their hope rests firmly on advancements in DNA technology. They remain confident that one day, science will identify the killer and finally deliver the justice they have fought for all these years. Pam has said that Amy’s gentle heart lives on in her memory, and whenever she sees children or animals, she is reminded of the daughter she lost too soon.
Shawn and Angie Ayers Are Comfortable in Their Ranch Lifestyle Today
For Shawn Ayers, the bond with his younger sister Amy was unshakable from the very beginning. He has often recalled that the day he first held her in his arms, he felt an overwhelming sense of protection toward her. Growing up together on the family ranch, both Shawn and Amy were deeply involved in the Future Farmers of America (FFA), and that agricultural lifestyle has remained central to Shawn’s identity. He admits that ranching and working with livestock is not just a career, but the only way of life he has ever truly known. Since Amy’s passing, Shawn and his wife, Angie, have taken on the role of spokespeople for their family.
Both have worked tirelessly as advocates for justice in Amy’s case and raised awareness about her story by speaking publicly about it. Their efforts even led them to appear on CBS’s ‘48 Hours,’ where they shared Amy’s story and the ongoing pursuit of accountability. Shawn and Angie now live in Austin, Texas, where they are raising their two children, Katie and Ryland, who are both finishing high school in 2025. The couple has made sure that their children grow up knowing who Amy was and understanding the significance of her life, loss, and legacy.
Family is at the center of everything they do, and they frequently spend time with loved ones from both sides by taking trips and creating memories of a lifetime. They continue their strong involvement with the Stock Horse of Texas Association and remain devoted to raising and training horses, which has always been one of their greatest passions. Between their advocacy, family life, and ranching roots, Shawn and Angie have built a life that they are proud of and have promised to never stop fighting for Amy.
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