Exonerated man's widow calls settlement in yogurt shop murders "blood money"
Summary
The family of Maurice Pierce, one of four men wrongly accused in a 1991 Texas murder case, accepted a $35 million settlement from Austin after the real killer was found. Maurice Pierce died in 2010 after a police shooting, and his widow and daughter say the settlement is about seeking justice and changes in the system, not just money.Key Facts
- Maurice Pierce and three other men were wrongly accused of killing four teenage girls in an Austin yogurt shop in 1991.
- The real killer, Robert Eugene Brashers, was identified by investigators, leading to the men's exoneration in February 2026.
- Austin agreed to pay a $35 million settlement; Maurice Pierce’s family will receive about $10 million since he is deceased.
- Maurice Pierce was arrested shortly after the murders but was never convicted and spent three years in jail before being released in 2003.
- In 2010, Maurice Pierce was fatally shot by Austin police during a traffic stop; his family disputes some details surrounding his death.
- The Pierce family describes the money as "blood money" and wants systemic reforms and justice rather than just financial compensation.
- The family has proposed seven reforms for the city of Austin to prevent similar wrongful accusations and improve the justice system.
- The Austin Police Department declined further comment on the family's concerns about harassment and Maurice Pierce’s death.
Read the Full Article
This is a fact-based summary from The Actual News. Click below to read the complete story directly from the original source.