Copyright © 1999, The Austin American-Statesman

Todd Frankel, 11-09-1999.

Witness in yogurt shop case arrested, sent to Austin

A witness in the investigation of the yogurt shop slayings was ordered from Charleston, W.Va., to Austin on Monday after a West Virginia judge ruled he was medically fit to travel. Roy Rose is expected to testify today before a Travis County grand jury investigating the 1991 killings of four teen-age girls. Rose, who knew one of the four suspects charged in October , had violated an earlier court order to travel to Texas and was arrested. He argued Monday that he was too sick to go to Texas, but a Charleston judge rejected his claims. Austin authorities say they believe Rose heard one of the suspects, Robert Burns Springsteen, brag about the killings. Springsteen is fighting extradition to Texas. A hearing on that issue is scheduled for No. 18. Rose, suffering from Hepatitis C and heavily medicated, appeared in court looking weak and wearing a jacket over his orange prison jumpsuit and shackles. His attorney, William Harding, argued unsuccessfully that a trip to Texas would be a medical hardship for his client. Harding said later Monday that his client boarded a chartered flight to Texas soon after the morning hearing. ``He's there now, or should be,'' Harding said. Rose first told authorities that Springsteen admitted to the killings, Harding said. Later, he recanted, saying police had coerced his statement. ``He's obviously in a Catch-22,' ' Harding said in reference to Rose's grand jury testimony. ``He's damned if he does and damned if he doesn't." Killed in the Dec. 6, 1991, incident at the I Can't Believe It's Yogurt shop w ere Amy Ayers, 13, Eliza Hope Thomas, 17, and sisters Jennifer Harbison, 17, and Sarah Harbison, 15. Leah Quin of the Austin American-Statesman contributed to this report.

Copyright © 1999, The Austin American-Statesman

Todd Frankel, Witness in yogurt shop case arrested, sent to Austin., 11-09-1999.