Katharina Buczek
All four girls had also been shot in the head with a .22 caliber gun. However, Amy was the only victim found to have been shot twice– the first bullet from a .22 caliber gun, which did not penetrate her skull. So, the thirteen-year-old was shot again with a .380 bullet from a semiautomatic weapon.
Later, authorities also realized that five hundred and forty dollars had been missing from the cash register.
Due to the horrific nature of the crime, investigators were able to quickly determine that more than one perpetrator had likely been involved in the murders. But, even with numerous arrests, convictions, and exonerations over the past three decades, the girls’ case has tragically remained unsolved.
The disaster sent shock waves throughout the city of Austin and continues to rattle community members to this day.
With many advancements in forensic DNA testing in recent years, though, many are still hopeful that the identity of the killers might soon be revealed. The murders of Jennifer, Sarah, Amy, and Eliza also served as inspiration for the Homicide Victims’ Families’ Rights Act of 2021, which requires federal agencies to re-examine cold cases with “a fresh set of eyes” while applying the most up-to-date forensic technologies and investigative standards.
If you have any information, please contact the Austin Police Department at 512-477-3588.
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