AUSTIN — The Austin City Council unanimously approved a $35 million settlement for four men wrongly accused in the 1991 Yogurt Shop Murders. The payout is the highest settlement in city history.

In February, a judge declared Robert Springsteen, Michael Scott, Forrest Welborn, and Maurice Pierce innocent in the killings of Eliza Thomas, Sarah Harbison, Jennifer Harbison, and Amy Ayers at a North Austin 'I Can't Believe It's Yogurt' shop. Prosecutors have since acknowledged that a botched police investigation led to the wrongful targeting of the four men.

Under the settlement agreement, Springsteen and Scott will each receive $9.8 million. The Pierce family will receive $10 million, and Welborn will receive about $4.8 million. Springsteen spent a decade on death row, and Scott served 10 years in prison due to the wrongful accusations. Welborn was never officially indicted but told KVUE's Tony Plohetski in a February interview that his life was ruined by his association with the case.

Austin Mayor Kirk Watson apologized on the city’s behalf during the City Council meeting. "There's nothing that we or I can say to undo past wrongs. We can only mitigate our mistakes with action," Watson said. He added, "I've said previously that I hope the exonerations bring some relief and closure, and I hope that this proposed financial settlement agreement also brings some relief and closure."

The City of Austin will issue bonds that do not require taxpayer approval to fund the settlement. There is no timeline for when those bonds will be issued. Maurice Pierce died years later in a confrontation with police; his family said the incident was fueled by trauma stemming from the wrongful accusation.