This case has 50 or more confessions related to it.  A fair number of suspects from Mexican Nationals to People in Black (a local term for teens that wear black and tend to be rebels), to cult members.  Now police are targeting four young men with families of their own.  Four young men who were no older than the victims were at the time of these murders.  These young men have no criminal records to speak of.  They have lead normal, health lives.  The only down fall attributed to these boys, that none of them were scholarly.  However, we question whether this makes them capable of this horrific crime.  A crime of this nature would have required intense calculated planning over a period of time and someone with experience of the this nature.  Additionally, these boys knew each other for just a few short days.  Would they trust each other enough to engage in this type of activity in such a short period of time?

These boys have been questioned off and on for 8 years.  Never indicating any involvement in this crime.   We question whether the current implication is truly that or the product of law enforcement gone awry.  Our city has been plagued with problems in law enforcement.  Are we to assume that activities that have been punished in the past cannot recur?  Is our city so different from the rest of the country, where incidents abound of police misconduct and miscarriages of justice seem to be in every headline?

There are rumors that the local police were directed to close this case before the year 2000 at all costs.  Indeed cost doesn’t seem to be a factor for them.  They have flown all over the country badgering the boys’ family members, friends and acquaintances.  Pressuring people to provide them with proof of these boys involvement.  However, they have been unsuccessful in these attempts which ultimately are paid for by the citizens' taxes.  There are rumors that politicians are heavy backers in the pursuit of this case. When did the pursuit of Justice become a political game?  Justice is not about who has the most convictions under their belt.  At least that is not what was intended when our country laid out how Justice would be served. Greed and the pursuit of personal gain has changed the vision of true Justice.

One of these young men was arrested weeks after the murders with a small caliber weapon in his possession.  Supposedly he claimed that a friend used the weapon in the murders.  A detective, later fired for fabricating "evidence" in this and at least 90 other cases, took that statement. However, officers in charge of the case at that time, released the young man, convinced of his innocence after numerous hours of unsupervised and torturous questioning.  They had determined that it was no more truthful that some of the confessions that they had already gone over and dismissed. Public records were sealed shortly after the murders, something that officials had not seen during their careers of 10 years or more.  Getting those same records opened for evaluation during these recent events in the case has been akin to pulling healthy teeth from an angry lion.

There are other avenues to pursue that make more sense than four teenaged boys bent on robbery.  A robbery that was essentially fruitless that supposedly enraged them and caused the violent deaths of four young girls. We have indications that there are similar crimes in other states and that more likely suspects are available. Yet it is apparent to many that none of these avenues have been explored.  A similar crime in New Mexico that Austin police didn’t want to discuss with New Mexico police, another in El Paso, TX. Suspicious looking people seen in or around the shop the night in question that have never been sought.  One person has told police of someone going into the shop around closing but not seen leaving.  Additionally, there have been statements about a route driver that had access to and familiarity with the shop and the area.  There are other people that match sketches and profiles that have been released but were never questioned. Where as, these boys match neither the sketches nor the profiles.   It seems as though they are being prosecuted for not remembering where they were on a Friday night 8 years ago.  Do you know where you were?  What you were doing? Who you were with?  I certainly don’t. The interviews that were taken at that time were MYSTERIOUSLY lost.   We believe that they told where these boys were and should have cleared them completely of any further harassment by the APD. That night was no different than any other because they did the same thing they always did and it wasn't this crime, so why would they remember it over any other usual night?

An entire city, inmates and citizens alike have threatened these boys. Threats of killing them, of taking justice into “our own hands”.  All of this before an "impartial" jury of their peers can review the facts and evidence.  However, we also question whether an "impartial" jury can be found in Austin, a city haunted by this terrible crime.  The local media has prominently displayed these boys as killers before the city.  Providing information from only the DA.  Statements that walk a thin line but apparently do not violate the gag order in place. The Mayor, Chief of Police, and the DA had these boys convicted and sentenced, on national television, before they were even settled into their jail cell.  Justice??

It has been suggested that the current proceedings are actually an attempt to hide something else.  Whether these accusations are true or not, we do not know.  However, the number of coincidences between these criminal proceeding and others legal activities is astronomical.  How many true coincidences are there in life?  How many because things are related?  My personal experience shows that true coincidence is rare.  There are indications others share that experience as this case goes forward.

There seems to be an overwhelming desire to see these boys convicted of a crime that those who know them are certain they are not guilty of.  Is it not true that most killers have shown that side somewhere, somehow to someone?  None of the people that know these boys have every seen any indications that they are destructive to human life.  In fact, they have been described as peacekeepers, pacifists, loving and honorable. They are all gentle natured, and willing to help someone in need anytime.  All of the convicted killers I have ever heard of had someone that saw it, whether it was a friend, an acquaintance or lover.  Situations have arisen during their unfair incarceration, in Travis County Jail where they are supposed to be in “protective custody”, that should have resulted in the behavior displaying itself, yet each time these boys walk away from a confrontation that could become physical and violent.  Is this the behavior of a psychopathic killer?

We need help in attaining Justice for these boys and the girls who were so brutally removed from their lives.  We are looking for the truth.  We hope that our judicial system to works, we need it to.  Too many innocents have died in the name of Justice.   Help us stop 4 more from becoming victims of a justice system that has become more involved in the number of cases won than finding the truth and holding those really responsible accountable.

Some of the very UNUSUAL moves of the DA and A.P.D. that make us feel they are trying to cover for the real murderers:

_ Coerced statements

_ False witnesses (bringing in other prisoners to testify against the boys)

_ Fabricated "evidence"

_ Refusing to release exculpatory evidence

_ Refusing to release the entire medical examiner’s report

_ Detectives' confused and uncorroborated statements

_ GAG orders that seem to be for the defense only and not the DA or APD

_ Ignoring the Judges orders to turn over ALL the evidence

We fight today because we must perhaps you will have to fight tomorrow.  We ask that you not wait for this nightmare to envelop your life before you take a stand.  We did and unfortunately we could pay a very high price for our apathy.

If you would like to help, please contact me at   urtrey1@aol.com

UPDATE TO THE YOGURT SHOP MURDER CASE

Austin, Texas corruption
  On a Friday night in December 1991, four young girls’ lives were ended
horribly.  They were found shot and burned in a yogurt shop in Austin, TX.
  It is believed the fire was set to cover evidence of the crime.  Over the
course of 8 years the Austin police have tried to find the person(s)
responsible.  The families of these girls have grieved and had their wounds
opened time and again as police pointed to first one set of suspects then
another. The victims’ families only wish to find the true culprit(s), and
have some kind of closure. We feel the DA is taking advantage of this and
using that to further the conviction of these innocent boys. We also want the
real murderers caught and held responsible. We deeply sorrow for the loss
these families suffer.
   Now police are targeting four young men with families of their own.  Four
young men who were no older than the victims were at the time of these
murders.  These young men have no criminal records to speak of.  They have
lead normal, health lives.  The only down fall attributed to these boys, that
none of them were overly scholarly.  However, we question whether this makes
them capable of this horrific crime.  A crime of this nature would have
required intense calculated planning over a period of time and someone with
experience of the this nature.  Additionally, these boys knew each other for
just a few short days.  Would they trust each other enough to engage in this
type of activity in such a short period of time?
  These boys have been questioned off and on for 8 years.  Never indicating
any involvement in this crime.  We question whether the current implication
is truly that or the product of law enforcement gone awry.  Our city has been
plagued with problems in law enforcement.  Are we to assume that activities
that have been punished in the past cannot recur?  Is our city so different
from the rest of the country, where incidents abound of police misconduct and
miscarriages of justice seem to be in every headline?
  There are rumors that the local police were directed to close this case
before the year 2000 at all costs.  Indeed cost doesn’t seem to be a factor
for them.  They have flown all over the country badgering the boys’ family
members, friends and acquaintances.  Pressuring people to provide them with
proof of these boys involvement.  However, they have been unsuccessful in
these attempts which ultimately are paid for by the citizens' taxes.  There
are rumors that politicians are heavy backers in the pursuit of this case.
When did the pursuit of Justice become a political game?  Justice is not
about who has the most convictions under their belt.  At least that is not
what was intended when our country laid out how Justice would be served.
Greed and the pursuit of personal gain has changed the vision of  â€œTrue
Justice”.
One of these young men was arrested weeks after the murders with a small
caliber weapon in his possession.  Supposedly he claimed that a friend used
the weapon in the murders.  A Detective Hector Polanko  inserted  that
statement into the report portraying it as the young man's  statement..
However, officers in charge of the case at that time, released the young man,
convinced of his innocence after numerous hours of unsupervised and torturous
questioning. Hector Polanko was later fired for fabricating "evidence" in at
least 90. They had determined that it was no more truthful than  the
confessions they had already gone over and dismissed. Public records were
sealed shortly after the murders, something that officials had not seen
during their careers of 10 years or more.  Getting those same records opened
for evaluation during these recent events in the case has been akin to
pulling healthy teeth from an angry lion.
  There are other avenues to pursue that make more sense than four teenaged
boys bent on robbery.  A robbery that was essentially fruitless that
supposedly enraged them and caused the violent deaths of four young girls.
Detectivs have admitted they did not pursue these other avenues because they
were going to pursue these young men. One individual called these young men,
"throwaway teens"
We have indications that there are similar crimes in other states and that
more likely suspects are available. Yet it is apparent to many that none of
these avenues will ever be explored.
A similar crime in New Mexico that Austin police didn’t want to discuss with
New Mexico police, another in El Paso, TX. Suspicious looking people seen in
or around the shop the night in question that have never been sought.  One
witness told police of someone going into the shop around closing but not
seen leaving.  Additionally, there have been statements about a route driver
that had access to and familiarity with the shop and the area.  There are
other people that match sketches and profiles that have been released but
were never questioned. Whereas, these boys match neither the sketches nor the
profiles. (One suspect's color photo was put with three black and white
photos to draw attention to his photo first)   
It seems as though they are being prosecuted for not remembering where they
were on a Friday night 8 years ago.  Do you know where you were?  What you
were doing? Who you were with?  I certainly don’t.
The interviews that were taken at that time were MYSTERIOUSLY lost.   We
believe the (tapes ?) APD had told where these boys were and would have
cleared them completely of any further harassment by the APD. Those tapes,
and statements taken during that period of  "questioning" has been lost, with
MANY other items and statements. That night was no different than any other
to these young men, because they did the same thing they always did  and it
wasn't this crime, so why would they remember it over any other usual night?
  An entire city, inmates and citizens alike have threatened these boys.
  Threats of killing them, of taking justice into “our own hands”.  All of
this before an  "impartial" jury of their peers can review the facts and
evidence.  However, we also question whether an "impartial" jury can be found
in Austin, a city haunted by this terrible crime.  The local media has
prominently displayed these boys as killers before the city.  Providing
information from only the DA.  Statements that walk a thin line but
apparently do not violate the gag order in place.
The Mayor, Chief of Police, and the  DA had these boys convicted and
sentenced, on national television, before they were even settled into their
jail cell.  Justice??
  It has been suggested that the current proceedings are actually an
attempt to hide something else.  Whether these accusations are true or not,
we do not know.  However, the number of coincidences between these
criminal proceeding and others legal activities is astronomical.  How many
true coincidences are there in life?  How  many because things are related?  
My personal experience shows that true coincidences are rare.  There are
indications others share that experience as this case goes forward.
There seems to be an overwhelming desire to see these boys convicted of a
crime that those who know them are certain they are not guilty of.  Is it not
true that most killers have shown that side somewhere, somehow to someone?  
None of the people that know these boys have every seen any indications that
they are destructive to human life.  In fact, they have been described as
peacekeepers, pacifists, loving and honorable. They are all gentle natured,
and willing to help someone in need anytime.  
All of the convicted killers I have ever heard of had someone that saw it,
whether it was friend, an acquaintance or lover.  Situations have arisen
during their unfair incarceration, Travis County Jail, (where they are
supposedly  in “protective custody”), should have  resulted in the behavior
displaying itself, yet each time these boys walk away from a confrontation
that could become physical and violent.  Is this the behavior of a
psychopathic killer?
  We need help in attaining Justice for these boys and the girls who
were so
brutally removed from their lives.  We are looking for the truth.  We had  
hoped  that our Judicial  system  worked, we needed it to.  Too many
innocents have died in the name of Justice.   
     Help us stop 4 more from becoming victims of a justice system that has
become more involved in the number of cases won than finding the truth
and holding those really responsible accountable.
     Some of the very UNUSUAL moves of the DA and A.P.D. that is being
allowed by JUDGE MIKE LYNCH. We wonder if this is just another cover for a
more vicious crime?
_ Coerced statements by Austin Police Department
_ Multiple DNA tests that  have excluded all these suspects from crime
and crime scene are being ignored by the DA, APD, and JUDGE MIKE LYNCH.
_ Multiple ballistic reports at different periods and by different
agencies THAT exclude gun Maurice Pierce had from crime  and scene. (1991,
1994, 1999)
_ Fingerprint  test exclude suspects from crime scene are ignored
_ Fabricated "evidence"(Detective Polanko was fired for this in at least
90 cases)
_ Refusing to release exculpatory evidence to Grand Jury for evaluation
_ Refusing to release the entire medical examiner’s report
_ Detectives' confused and uncorroborated statements
_ GAG orders that seem to be for the defense only and not the DA or APD
_ Ignoring the Judges orders to turn over ALL the evidence
_ Detectives and DA withholding information from Grand Jury to assure
indictments by DA
_ Judge witholding evidence that would exclude suspects
_ Judge allowing DA to remove documents from files and replacing them
after Defense Team has been through files.
_ Judge refuses to give defense teams money for experts or investigators.
This is part of the Constitutional Bill of Rights   
_ Purposely withholding ballistic reports that cleared the weapon taken
from Maurice Pierce
_ Fabricating statements that were supposedly taken from a terribly
garbled video (Judge Jean Muerur said there was no way they could have
gotten the written statement from this video.) But Judge Lynch is allowing
this to be "evidence"
_ Detective never met or talked to Maurice Pierce,  yet he said the
SUSPECT was a liar and was living a liar's life.
_ Threatening people with jail time if they didn't say what Austin Police
told them to say . (witnesses said this on national television)
_ Soliciting inmates to be "witnesses"
_ DA is same that suspended the detective for fabrication evidence in
this case and are possible witnesses, yet the judge sees nothing wrong with
them prosecuting this case.
_ The prosecuting DA secretly questioned "jailhouse witnesses" behind the
publics' eye and without the attorneys' permission, yet the judge has
allowed it.
_ Judge has these "Public" hearings behind closed doors.
_ DA subpoenaed families and friends of all the defendants so they are
unable to be in the courtroom and hear what is going on.
     The list goes on and on. Austin, Texas is a political town and
everybody scratches everybody's back. The middle class working people are
the ones that are being targeted by the corrupt law enforcement and
judicial systems.
  YOU ARE THE LAST HOPE OF AN HONEST PERSON TO HELP THE LESS FORTUNATE
PEOPLE TO FIGHT THIS CORRUPTION. WON'T YOU PLEASE, PLEASE HELP?

  We fight today because we must perhaps you will have to fight
tomorrow.  We
ask that you not wait for this nightmare to envelop your life before you
take a stand.  We did and unfortunately we could pay a very high price for
our apathy.
 
   The Austin Chronicle/ Politics: Somebody Has to Die
http://www.auschron.com/issues/dispatch/2001-06-15/pols_feature.html
 
     Families/Friends Against Corrupt Enforcement  
http://members.aol.com/_ht_a/ffaceorg/FFACEindex.html

         If you would like to help please contact:
      b1v3r2@hotmail.com