What Happened to Holly Bobo?: The Appeal

Summary

20/20 Podcast Summary: "What Happened to Holly Bobo?: The Appeal"

Host: Eva Pilgrim
Release Date: June 11, 2025
Podcast Series: 20/20 by ABC News

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Introduction

In the gripping episode titled "What Happened to Holly Bobo?: The Appeal," ABC News's 20/20 delves deep into the unresolved true crime case of Holly Bobo. This episode focuses on the ongoing efforts to appeal the conviction of Zach Adams, the man sentenced for Holly's abduction, rape, and murder.

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Background of the Holly Bobo Case

Holly Bobo disappeared on April 13, 2011, sparking a high-profile investigation. Zach Adams was convicted seven years prior to this episode and is currently serving a life sentence without parole plus 50 years at the Morgan County Correctional Complex in East Tennessee.

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Zach Adams' First Interview from Prison ([02:01] - [05:21])

Eva Pilgrim and her production team, while in Tennessee, secured Zach Adams' first-ever interview since his conviction. The conversation revealed Zach's steadfast claim of innocence and his desire to appeal the verdict.

• Zach Adams ([05:04]): "Absolutely not." (in response to whether he killed or raped Holly Bobo)

Zach recounted the morning of Holly's abduction, providing his perspective on the events and disputing the identification of the assailant.

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Discrepancies in Witness Testimony ([06:06] - [10:34])

Zach highlighted inconsistencies in the prosecution's case:

• Zach Adams ([06:39]): "He said the person was, what, 5 foot what, 5 foot 9, 200 pounds. Who kidnapped her. Then it wasn't Jason Autry. He's 6 foot 6. Could have been me. I was 6 foot 3, 125 pounds."

Despite testimonies suggesting Zach made incriminating statements, he maintains that he never explicitly confessed to Holly's murder.

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New Legal Developments and Evidence ([10:47] - [16:13])

Zach's new legal team introduced recently uncovered evidence aiming to challenge his conviction. A pivotal element is a video recording of Jason Autry, a key witness who previously testified against Zach.

• Katie Spirko ([12:24]): Discusses Jason's recantation.
• Zach Adams ([16:11]): Acknowledges Jason's recantation, expressing relief that the truth is emerging.

Prosecutors countered by questioning the credibility of Jason's new statements, labeling them as hearsay and motivated by revenge.

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Court Proceedings and Defense Strategies ([16:13] - [33:09])

The defense presented surveillance footage from the morning of Holly's abduction, attempting to establish an alibi for Zach. Furthermore, Dylan Adams, Zach's brother who took an Alford plea, testified for the first time asserting his and Zach's innocence.

• Dylan Adams ([28:53]): Confirms his presence in the truck with Zach and Shane Austin during the relevant time frame.

The defense also introduced taped interviews showing Dylan's coerced confessions to TBI agents, which he later admitted were lies.

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Judge's Rulings and Ongoing Appeals ([33:09] - [38:24])

The judge reviewed evidence, including Dylan's contradictory statements and the surveillance video, ultimately ruling against admitting the video as admissible evidence. The defense plans to appeal this decision, prolonging Zach's fight for exoneration.

• Judge's Observation ([30:55]): Remarks on the inconsistencies in Dylan's testimony, questioning his credibility.

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Current Status and Reflections ([38:24] - [42:07])

The hearing remains unresolved, with the judge placing it on recess pending the appeal's outcome. Eva Pilgrim reflects on the prolonged and complex nature of the case, emphasizing the lasting impact on all parties involved.

• Zach Adams ([41:47]): "There’s not one day that goes by that I don’t think about this case."

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Legislative Impact

In response to the case, Tennessee lawmakers passed the Holly Bobo Act in 2020, expanding the scope of endangered persons alerts to include individuals up to 21 years old, enhancing public and law enforcement response to missing persons cases.

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Conclusion

The "What Happened to Holly Bobo?: The Appeal" episode underscores the complexities and enduring questions surrounding Holly Bobo's tragic disappearance and murder. As Zach Adams continues his legal battle to overturn his conviction, the case remains a poignant reminder of the challenges in achieving justice.

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Notable Quotes:

• Zach Adams ([02:09]): "Hey, Zach, this is Eva. How are you doing?"

• Zach Adams ([09:09]): "We didn't have a hard alibi and we was local, you know, drug users and stuff, and what would it matter putting us away?"

• Zach Adams ([14:27]): "He's lying. That's the first thing I thought."

• Dylan Adams ([29:56]): "I was in the truck that morning with my brother Zach and our friend Shane Austin."

• Zach Adams ([41:47]): "Over 10 years. There's not one day that hadn't went by that you don't think..."

---

This comprehensive summary encapsulates the critical elements discussed in the episode, providing listeners with a clear understanding of the ongoing appeal in the Holly Bobo case and the quest for justice by Zach Adams.

Transcript

[Eva Pilgrim]

Hi, I'm Debra Roberts, here with another.

[Zach Adams]

Weekly episode of what Happened to Holly Bobo?

[Eva Pilgrim]

Remember, you can get new episodes early.

[Zach Adams]

If you follow what Happened to Holly Bobo on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your favorite podcast app. Now here's the episode. Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. With the price of just about everything.

[Eva Pilgrim]

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[Zach Adams]

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[Eva Pilgrim]

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[Zach Adams]

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[Eva Pilgrim]

See mintmobile.com In April 2024, my producers and I were in Tennessee conducting interviews for a 2020 episode on the Holly Bobo case. We'd spoken to so many people whose lives had been affected by this story and. But there was one person we hadn't talked to yet. Zach Adams. The man convicted of murdering Holly Bobo was now in the Morgan County Correctional Complex in East Tennessee. Zach claimed he was innocent and was trying to appeal his conviction. While we were in Tennessee, we arranged a call with Zach. This would be his first ever interview since his conviction seven years ago. Remember, he didn't testify at his own trial, so this would be the first time we'd hear from him. My team and I were wrapping up an interview in a nearby town. We were expecting Zach to call us from prison at 12:30. So we were caught off guard when the phone rang a little early.

[Zach Adams]

Rolling. All cameras hold and accept is what you want to do.

[Eva Pilgrim]

The producers and crew rushed to get the cameras in position. Ready?

[Zach Adams]

Yeah. Hello. This is a prepaid call from at the Tennessee Department of Corrections. Hello?

[Eva Pilgrim]

Hey, Zach, this is Eva. How are you doing?

[Zach Adams]

Hi. I'm good.

[Eva Pilgrim]

I guess we should probably just kind of start at the beginning. There were many tough questions I needed to ask Zach. But with him in prison, the call would have to be short. So I made sure to ask him about the morning of Holly's abduction on April 13, 2011. I wanted to know his version of what happened that day. Here's what he told me. After waking up, he spoke to his girlfriend a couple of times on the phone. He says they'd been arguing since the day before, though she would later testify that while she had tried to break up with him earlier in the week, they were together the evening before the abduction, and she'd stayed the night. Zach says that in the morning, his friend Shane Austin called him asking if he wanted to go out and try to buy some drugs.

[Zach Adams]

Dogs.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Zach didn't have a car, so he went to ask his brother Dylan if they could use his truck. He says he and Dylan then picked up Shane. They stopped at an ATM to get cash and then a gas station. While Zach was pumping gas, Shane went in to pay.

[Zach Adams]

And while he's in there, I guess that's when he hears that somebody has been kidnapped or. So at this point, we don't know who. All I know is we're facing me getting drugs, and I need to get us back to. Back to our home area and be as safe as I can, because, you know, I mean, in my mind, I'm thinking somebody's really messed up.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Zach says after about two or three days, the police showed up at his door.

[Zach Adams]

And I remember I was coming out off morphine. I was real, real sick. And I'll never forget they was in red coats because it had been raining then. It was in these wet, red, like raincoats. So they come out to my house and we looked. They looked everywhere anybody could be looked underneath the house. And they quite asked me if I had camouflage. And I said, of course I got camouflage. I used to hunt all the time. I've got all kinds of camouflaged. And so I showed them all of my camouflage and stuff, and they took their notes and then left. I think they might have left their card.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Remember Holly's brother Clint said the man who took Holly was wearing camouflage, but Zach says it wasn't him. In fact, he says he's been convicted of murdering someone he's never even met. Did you know Holly Bobo before this?

[Zach Adams]

Never knew. Never met her. Never drew over to this. Never. I mean, never met her. The only connection I've had to her family was her mother was my fourth grade teacher. I never actually knew where their house was, and I still don't know that I know exactly where it's at. To this day.

[Eva Pilgrim]

I have to ask you, did you kill Holly Bobo?

[Zach Adams]

Absolutely not.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Did you rape Holly Bobo?

[Zach Adams]

Absolutely not.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Do you know anything about what happened to Holly Bobo?

[Zach Adams]

Absolutely not. If I did, I would have already told anything I knew.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Zach Adams is currently serving a life sentence without parole plus 50 years. But now he has a new legal team who says they have newly discovered evidence they believe supports his effort to challenge his conviction. Is Zach Adams fate about to change? I'm abc News senior national correspondent Eva Pilgrim. From ABC Audio and 2020, this is what happened to Holly Boy. Episode 6 the Appeal what do you say to all those people who think you're guilty?

[Zach Adams]

Where's the evidence to support my guilt?

[Eva Pilgrim]

Zach spent much of our conversation trying to point out what he says are flaws in the case against him. One of Zach's main points of contention is that he simply does not fit the description of the man Clint Bobo says took his sister into the woods. And neither does his brother Dylan, who took an Alford plea. Or Jason Autry, who served time for his role in Holly's abduction. Or Shane Austin, who had red hair.

[Zach Adams]

He said the person was, what, 5 foot what, 5 foot 9, 200 pounds. Who kidnapped her. Then it wasn't Jason Altre. He's 6 foot 6. Could have been me. I was 6 foot 3, 125 pounds. My brother, 6 foot 2, 125 pounds. The person in abduction there wasn't. Wasn't one of us. I mean, he didn't match the description of any of us.

[Eva Pilgrim]

But prosecutors did present evidence as Zach's trial, including testimony from several witnesses who recounted hearing Zach say incriminating things. He said, I'll kill you like I did Holly Bobo.

[Zach Adams]

He made the comment, I couldn't have picked a prettier. He just had a couple of his friends, you know, they got drunk and they went into the woods with this girl. And then he was like, you know, I was there for the worst of it. And I was like, well, did you do it? And he was like, I was there.

[Eva Pilgrim]

For the worst of it. During our phone call, I asked Zach about those incriminating witness statements. Did you say those things?

[Zach Adams]

A normal person don't believe in the drug order like I did. My life used to revolve around drugs and selling drugs and stuff.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Zach told me when he was selling drugs, he wanted to make sure people were afraid of him. That way they wouldn't stiff him on what they owed him.

[Zach Adams]

So I said things that I should have said, but I never directly said I did this to Holly or I did that.

[Eva Pilgrim]

I also asked him about his brother Dylan, whose interviews with authorities later led TBI to arrest Zach for Holly's disappearance. Remember in episode four, we heard the tape of Dylan's confession to TBI where he said he took part in Holly Bobo's rape along with his brother Zach. At the point that you found out that your brother had confessed, were you surprised?

[Zach Adams]

Yes. That's what I didn't understand. Confessed to what he Was with me that day, confessed. I was very shocked. He's lying. That's the first thing I thought. He's a liar. He's lying. My brother, he's just wants everybody to like him. He's non confrontational. He'll lie to you about little small stuff that don't even matter. But he's. Other than that, he's a good person. He just wants people to like him.

[Eva Pilgrim]

As Zach told me, he didn't think his brother Dylan or his friend Shane were involved. He says they were together all day. But he went even further. Remember another friend of Zach's, Jason Autry, went on to testify against him. He was a crucial witness at trial. But Zach says he doesn't think Jason was involved at all. Why do you think you guys became suspects in this case?

[Zach Adams]

We didn't have a hard alibi and we was local, you know, drug users and stuff, and what would it matter putting us away? I felt like they, they, they had to arrest somebody, even if it was the wrong person, which it was.

[Eva Pilgrim]

When I interviewed Zach, he had already appealed twice and been denied. Now he had begun trying a third appeal. In January 2024, the Hardin county court received a petition from Zach's lawyers asking for a new trial for Zach. The petition claimed that the defense had new evidence, including a video recording of one of the witnesses who testified at Zach's trial.

[Zach Adams]

Boom. The gun sound, gun went out and it sound like boom, boom, boom.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Remember at the time of Holly's abduction, Jason Autry was a friend of Zach's, someone he used to do drugs with. Jason claimed at trial he'd witnessed Zach shooting Holly.

[Zach Adams]

It was just one shot, but it echoed underneath that bridge all the way down that damn river bottom. And when that gun went off, birds went everywhere. This all up under that bridge and it just dead silence for just a second.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Jason testified that Zach asked him the morning of Holly's abduction to help bury a body. He says he then drove with Zack to a spot under the bridge at the Tennessee river, helped him move the body, and then served as lookout as Zach shot Hollywood. Then Jason said Zach dropped Jason off at his car. He also said Zach later told him that he, Dylan and Shane Austin had kidnapped and raped Holly and that Zach had disposed of her body. But now the defense said someone on behalf of the defense team had interviewed Jason Autry and he was claiming something new.

[Zach Adams]

My name is Jason Autry. Can we just start at the very.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Beginning of when the video was recorded in December 2023 and it was filmed by a Woman named Katie spearko. She's a neuropsychologist who's currently working for Zach adams, but at the time, was working for Zach Adams defense team. Katie Spirko provided 2020 with the recording. I want to know your whole experience.

[Zach Adams]

How did it get from you being arrested for this to you being on.

[Eva Pilgrim]

The stand and telling this crazy story?

[Zach Adams]

That's a long ways. Yeah, that's a lot. Yeah, we got until 1.

[Eva Pilgrim]

In September 2020, Jason Autry pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit murder and facilitation of especially aggravated kidnapping in Holly's case. And with credit for time served, he was set free. But just a few months later, he was once again back in prison after pleading guilty to an unrelated federal gun charge. He was still in jail when spirco began working on this case. She went to speak with Jason. In the video, Jason discusses the events leading up to his decision to testify in Zach Adams trial. He says that originally he had intended to fight the charges and go to trial, but when he spoke to his attorney, he got an answer he wasn't expecting.

[Zach Adams]

So all of this in the beginning was just all routine quest. He said, I got you about a 95% chance. You spend rested time right away. You know, I need to know what they want to. What do they want from me? Yeah, I want you to testify straight up about it.

[Eva Pilgrim]

I need someone to understand.

[Zach Adams]

I said, well, what if I say all I seen was just a body, you know, laying in the back of the truck? That's not enough.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Good job. We spoke to Katie Spirko in 2024 about the video. What does he tell you? Tells me he made the whole thing up. Took the phone records and the case file to craft a story that fits in with the evidence that exists and cannot be changed. Why would someone admit to killing someone if they didn't do it?

[Zach Adams]

He's.

[Eva Pilgrim]

He's sitting in jail for years. He's being told that Zach's gonna be telling a story against him. And basically, it's this or the death penalty. And so under that amount of pressure, I think a lot of people would have folded the way he. In its petition to the court, the defense claimed the video would, quote, exonerate and exculpate the defendant from any guilt in this case. But prosecutors responded by saying that Jason's statements in the video were unsworn, not given under oath, and not subject to cross examination. They said that jason Autry's credibility was thoroughly impeached during Zach Adams trial and that the jury who convicted Zach Adams killed, was aware of inconsistencies in Jason's testimony and had heard him acknowledge that he agreed to testify for the state in hopes of receiving favorable treatment in a separate criminal case. For these reasons, prosecutors argued that Jason's statements did not amount to newly discovered evidence. Prosecutors added that Jason's testimony was just one piece of the state's substantial proof of Zach Adams guilt. Shortly after watching the video Spearko provided, one of our producers spoke to Jason Autry. You recanted your testimony in the Holly Bobo case. Is that. Is that true?

[Zach Adams]

Yes, that's true.

[Eva Pilgrim]

In a court filing, the defense referenced the video recording by Katie Spearko in which Jason Autry alleged, quote, he was very well trained by ADA Jennifer Nichols, who he referred to as the boss of it all.

[Zach Adams]

You're an engaging witness. Well, I was trained. I could tell you were trained.

[Eva Pilgrim]

I'm on the witness stand a lot.

[Zach Adams]

I know I was trained witness. Who was doing the training? Jennifer Nicholas. Yeah, yeah. She. She was the boss of it all.

[Eva Pilgrim]

In response, prosecutors denied that claim. Zach Adams defense team has also claimed that their video interview with Jason provided new information to show that Zach's constitutional rights to due process were violated by the state's prosecution of him. Prosecutors denied these rights were violated and argued that the claim should have been raised in at trial. I'm curious, you know, why. Why now? Why are you recanting now? And do you have anything to gain from it?

[Zach Adams]

I don't think there's really nothing to gain from it. I think it's all to lose, really.

[Eva Pilgrim]

What do you think of the fact that Jason recanted his confession?

[Zach Adams]

I'm glad. I'm glad everybody's telling the truth. It's about time. I wish. I wish he would have never lied in the first place.

[Eva Pilgrim]

We reached out to Jennifer Nichols, the prosecutor in the Zach Adams trial, about Jason Autry's allegation against her. We didn't hear back, but 2020 had reached out to Nichols in 2024, prior to its episode about the Holly Bobo case. In a statement then, Nichols denied the allegation, telling us that it is a false statement. She says the only guidance ever given to Jason Autry was to tell the truth. There was no training in 2024. She also declined 2020's request for an interview, but did send a statement that says, in part, at trial, we presented proof. Through 62 witnesses and 250 exhibits, the jurors heard testimony of Zachary Adams confessions to multiple and unrelated individuals. I remain confident in the jury's verdicts of Zachary Adams guilt. In September 2024, a judge noted that in the video, Jason Autry did not provide Zach with a clear alibi and that Jason's testimony was not the only evidence of Zach's guilt. The judge ruled that, quote, false testimony does not equate to actual innocence here and granted the state's motion to dismiss Zach Adams petition. Nevertheless, the defense has continued to try and argue that Zach should get a new trial, and in May of 2025, the defense finally had an opportunity to make its case in open court eight years after his conviction. Would the man convicted of Holly Bobo's rape, kidnapping and murder be granted a new trial? This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. Get this Adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives, but are we investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight, you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school Treat Start prioritizing their financial education and future today with a risk free trial at greenlight.com Spotify greenlight.com Spotify.

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[Zach Adams]

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[Eva Pilgrim]

In May of 2025, Zach Adams defense team tried once again to get a new trial. A series of hearings were held in hardin county, Tennessee, before judge Brent Bradbury, the same judge who had previously ruled against the defense's attempt to introduce the Jason Autry video into evidence. On day one of the hearing, the prosecution and defense discussed the video that Katie spirko had filmed of Jason Autry recanting his 2017 trial testimony. Remember, in a case where there was no DNA evidence linking Zach to the crime, Jason's 2017 testimony was significant. The trial judge at the time called it, quote, some of the most credible persuasive testimony I've ever heard. For this new hearing, Zach's defense team tried to call Jason back to the stand. But through a lawyer, Jason exercised his fifth amendment right against self incrimination. And when the defense tried to subpoena him, the federal bureau of prisons declined to transport him. That made Jason an unavailable witness. In lieu of Jason physically coming to court, the defense asked the judge to consider the videotaped interview admissible. Prosecutor Amy Weinrich argued that the video was recorded for revenge.

[Zach Adams]

This isn't a recantation. It couldn't be further from the truth.

[Eva Pilgrim]

This is a publicity stunt. The prosecutor argued that the state had information that the reason Jason Autry had filmed the video with Katie Spirko was to seek revenge against the authorities. She referenced a recorded jail call between Jason and his mother in February 2024, where Jason is heard saying, they're effing.

[Zach Adams]

With me in federal court.

[Eva Pilgrim]

I'm going to f with them.

[Zach Adams]

In state Court.

[Eva Pilgrim]

In addition, the state also argued that the videotaped interview was hearsay because Jason was not in court to be questioned about it. But Zach's attorney, Doug Bates, countered that there's an exception to the hearsay rule, which is that because the videotaped interview wasn't made in Jason's own interest, it should be admissible. The judge ruled that the Jason Autry video was hearsay and that the exception to the rule did not apply. He pointed out that the statement was not made under oath, that it was, quote, predominantly self serving, and that Jason's actions since then, such as pleading the Fifth, do not align with the, quote, free flowing nature of the conversation he had with Katie Spearko. The defense said it would appeal the ruling, but it meant they'd have to proceed with this hearing without a key element of their case. The defense detailed its other evidence, including surveillance footage from the morning Holly Bobo was abducted on April 13, 2011. The video shows a truck pulling up outside a BP gas station in front of an ATM at 11:12am the defense says Zach was in that truck and that it was his brother Dylan's Silverado. We should point out that while Zach told us in an interview that that he'd been pumping gas that morning and that Shane had gone in to pay, the defense did not introduce video of either of those events. But the defense says the video showing this truck outside the gas station at 11:12am is important because in 2017, Jason Autry had testified that around that time, he and Zach were in Zach's car with Holly's body in the trunk, driving along the back roads of Parsons, Tennessee. Bates argues that the video means the prosecution's timeline is impossible. Bates pointed out that the defense tested their theory by hiring someone to drive the route in the time frame Jason testified about it is impossible.

[Zach Adams]

Now, let that sink in, your honor, this timeline is impossible.

[Eva Pilgrim]

But the prosecutor, Amy Weinrich, struck back. She said there is no smoking gun and that the route was explained to the jury at the 2017 trial and that they still found Zach guilty. The defense called a number of TBI agents to the stand, including Mark Lewis, who worked on the Bobo case, to ask about that ATM video.

[Zach Adams]

Okay, do you remember a conversation at any time where anyone in TBI said, I have a question. If they're so worried about getting rid of a body during this same time frame, why are they at Sonic and why are they at atm? Why are they at BP specifically? I know, I don't recall.

[Eva Pilgrim]

It's possible that we had those conversations.

[Zach Adams]

You don't remember that conversation? No. No.

[Eva Pilgrim]

But prosecutors argued that the ATM footage of the car did not prove Zach's whereabouts, suggesting authorities ultimately determined that the footage did not have any value in the investigation. Here's Amy Weinrich cross examining another TBI agent, Brett Booth. You've seen the video. Did it have any value? Does it today?

[Zach Adams]

No. Can you tell whether it is human or canine in the front of that truck? That's what I said. There's no way of knowing who's in that truck or what's in that truck. Are you convinced it's a Silverado?

[Eva Pilgrim]

No. However, the defense called a witness who testified that he did know who was in that truck.

[Zach Adams]

Dylan Adams, you, Honor. Mr. Dylan Adams. Sue Adams.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Dylan Adams, Zach's brother, took the stand. It was the first time he had seen his brother Zach in over a decade. Zach was sobbing. Dylan had accepted an Alford plea and was serving 35 years for his role in Holly Bobo's murder. But during the hearing, he said he was innocent. In the hearing, Dylan was shown the surveillance video and testified that the truck in the ATM video was his and that he was in the truck that morning with his brother Zach and their friend Shane Austin. Then the defense showed Dylan a photo, a surveillance picture from inside the BP gas station store later that morning.

[Zach Adams]

Mr. Iows, do you recognize the individual in this store? Yes, sir.

[Eva Pilgrim]

The defense also played some of the tape you heard in episode four, in which Dylan confessed to TBI agents that he, Zach and Jason Autry had raped Holly. That's when the mood of the court seemed to shift. When the defense said it would play the video of Dylan's TBI interview, the prosecutor argued that she wasn't sure sure what the purpose of this was and that this was hearsay. But the judge overruled the objection, saying, quote, I'm gonna see this video. Even though the defense only played a portion of it in court, the judge assured them he would watch the several hours long video in its entirety on his own.

[Zach Adams]

What were they saying? We've been gonna get her later on tonight. What? They said her. Define her. I mean, this is what they said. Her. They didn't say Holly's name. They said her. Okay.

[Eva Pilgrim]

After playing a few minutes of the taped TBI interview, Doug Bates asked Dylan about the circumstances leading up to it, including Dylan's release from federal prison the previous month into the custody of. Of a former Memphis police officer named Dennis Benjamin.

[Zach Adams]

Who's Dennis Benjamin? Just somebody they knew. Right on. I never met him till after I Got sentenced in my federal trial. Who's they? Tbi.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Remember we mentioned in episode four, it was federal prosecutors handling Dylan's gun charges who arranged to have him released into the custody of Dennis Benjamin. Dylan says he did not know Dennis Benjamin, but that he was told he would live with him for his protection. Did you feel you needed protection?

[Zach Adams]

No, sir.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Dylan testified that Dennis Benjamin would hound him every day with questions about the Holly Bobo case.

[Zach Adams]

And you told him what, raping you. That's in Holly Bobo. That was a lie. Just to get him off my back.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Dennis Benjamin was also on the defense witness list, but was not called to testify. When we reached out to him previously, he said he couldn't speak to us because of the ongoing litigation. During cross examination, the prosecution didn't directly challenge Dylan on his claim that he lied to Dennis Benjamin, nor did they press him on the photo he says was of him at the BP gas station the morning Holly was kidnapped. But they did try to contextualize Dylan's relationship with Benjamin. The prosecutor showed Dylan a letter the state says he wrote to Benjamin after staying with him at his home.

[Zach Adams]

You recognize that writing? No, sir. No, ma' am. I didn't write it. I know. I know my. Right. I can't spell it good. So that's not my. Okay. All right. You don't remember telling the Benjamins how much you missed them? Nope. How much you enjoyed living with them? Nope.

[Eva Pilgrim]

The prosecutors also brought up various interviews Dylan had with TBI before he went to live with Dennis Benjamin. Remember, it was during this time period that investigators spoke to with Dylan at least six times over eight months, and he seemed to implicate his brother and Jason Autry in the kidnapping and murder of Holly Bobo. The judge appeared to take an interest in those and asked prosecutors for more details about what exactly Dylan said in those earlier unrecorded TBI interviews.

[Zach Adams]

The statement that's been talked about was made.

[Eva Pilgrim]

In September of 2014.

[Zach Adams]

So the statement that they're talking about is not the statement that the court has seen this morning. The. Correct.

[Eva Pilgrim]

It's another statement. Yes, sir. The judge looked at the prosecutor.

[Zach Adams]

Is the court gonna see that statement?

[Eva Pilgrim]

Yes.

[Zach Adams]

Okay.

[Eva Pilgrim]

We asked the circuit court whether the judge has received that statement and whether it will be made public but haven't heard. Back at the hearing, the prosecutors also played Dylan's recorded calls with his mom, Cindy, which took place around the time of some of those TBI interviews. The phone calls demonstrate how Dylan's story to his mother changed over time and ultimately came to match the Story he told TBI in the early calls, Cindy Adams, his mother, begs him to not speak to TBI any further without a lawyer.

[Zach Adams]

You know what I told you, don't try nothing. I told you not to talk without a lawyer. I mean, you're gonna have to get some backbone in you. You know, your brother's in a lot of trouble now because they're saying, you know, you said Holly was at that house. I mean, did you say Holly was at that house?

[Eva Pilgrim]

In a later call, Dylan's story to his mother changes.

[Zach Adams]

I want to tell you this. I did See all these sandwiches. I mean, I'm not lying about that house. Sorry. I said I'd seen Holly at Zachary's house. I'm not lying about that. I wasn't involved in it. I mean, too wide, huh? Too wise and shame you there. I mean, I'm not. And I'm not. They come ask me about that, and I'm not going to lie to them about that. I'm not getting. I'm not going to get in trouble. He's my brother. I love him, but I just can't live out there. Say that. What? Say that. Who's making you say that? Nobody's making me say it, Mother. I'm telling you from my own heart what they do with their. I don't know. I don't know, Mother. I do not know. I wish I did. Why do you wait so long? She's been missing for three years. I know, Mom. And I didn't know what to say. I'm scared.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Over the course of the call, Cindy, his mother starts crying.

[Zach Adams]

Maybe this, and don't worry about us. Did the right thing. Okay? It isn't breaking my heart. I mean, I can't wait if that family has suffered so bad. I know. I mean, I'm doing the right thing. Yeah, you. You. You did the right thing, son. You did the right nothing.

[Eva Pilgrim]

After the prosecutor played the calls, the defense asked Dylan whether he had been telling TBI and his mom the truth.

[Zach Adams]

Did the things you tell TBI then, were they true? No, they were not true. You listened to recordings of talking to your mom. Were the things you were telling your mom true?

[Eva Pilgrim]

The defense asked Dylan about his relationship with his mom. Dylan said, she's always treated me good. Good. As Dylan was giving this testimony, Zach appeared to be wiping tears from his eyes. Afterwards, the prosecutor jumped back in to finish cross examining Dylan.

[Zach Adams]

Let me make sure I understand this. Everything you told law enforcement since February 23rd of 2011, everything you've told law and enforcement has been a lie? Yes, ma' am. Okay. And everything you said to your mother in those calls was a lie? Yes, ma' am. Why were you crying?

[Eva Pilgrim]

Why were you crying if that was a lie?

[Zach Adams]

I mean, if you. If your mother talked to you that way, would you not cry? She told you she loved you. Why were you crying? Well, hello.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Over the course of the four day long hearing, the judge heard from multiple TBI agents. Dylan Adams, some of Zach's former lawyers, cell phone analysts, the people who were at the center of the exhaustive investigation into Holly Bobo's murder. But the hearing's resolution is still up in the air. Remember, the defense has appealed the judge's decision to bar the video it recorded with Jason Autry. The judge placed the hearing on an extended recess until the appeal is decided. Which means even after this days long hearing and after all these years, we still don't have an answer. We still don't know what exactly happened to Holly Bobo. The hearing is expected to pick up in a few months time. Still on the defense's witness list, Zach Adams himself. And Jennifer Nichols, the former prosecutor in the Zach Adams trial, now a sitting judge after the 2017 trial. The pastor for the Bobo family said they knew this would be a long road. We also spoke to the Bobo family in 2017. Holly's mother, Karen, told us she couldn't bring herself to even look at her daughter's remains. She said she wanted to remember Holly for who she was when she was alive.

[Zach Adams]

I'm hoping she'll also be remembered for not just the beautiful person on the outside she. She was, but the beautiful person on the inside.

[Eva Pilgrim]

That's how I want to remember.

[Zach Adams]

I want her remembered that way. And that's how I'm going.

[Eva Pilgrim]

That's how I choose to remember her. At the end of 2020, lawmakers in Tennessee passed the Holly Bobo act, which allows TBI to send out endangered persons alerts not just for children, but also for those up to age 21. It's intended to make sure authorities can move even faster and alert the public when young adults go missing. The Holly Bobo case is one of the most convoluted, complicated crimes I've ever covered. At every turn, I found myself asking more questions. And as you've heard, even some of the former investigators who worked this case still have questions themselves, including whether the wrong guys went to prison for this murder. No matter what you think, it's clear there are a lot of people whose lives were forever changed after Holly was murdered. As for Zach, he is still fighting to clear his name and overturn his conviction. He says there's not a day that goes by that he doesn't think about this case.

[Zach Adams]

Over 10 years. There's not one day that hadn't went by that you don't think, every time I see this fence, every time I. Every time I wake up in prison for something I didn't do, until you've been in prison for something you didn't do, you don't even know how to relate. I can't even explain it.

[Eva Pilgrim]

What. What do you think about why am I in there?

[Zach Adams]

You, who really did this? Is this person going to do it again? Are you ever going to get out of here? You know, is this the rest what the rest of my life looks like? Surely not. You pray to God. I pray to God all the time. Surely God has been what the rest of my life looks like.

[Eva Pilgrim]

What Happened to Holly Bobo is a production of ABC Audio in 2020. Hosted by me, Eva Pilgrim. The series was produced by Camille Peterson, Julia Nutter, Kiara Powell, Nora Hannah and Meg Fierro, with help from Audrey Moss, Aztec and Amira Williams. Our supervising producer is Susie Lu. Music and mixing by Evan Viola. Special thanks to Liz Alessi, Janice Johnston, Michelle Margulaz, Sean Dooley, Christina Corbin, Kieran McGurl, Andrew Paparella and Emma Pisha. Josh Cohan is our director of podcast programming. Laura Mayer is our executive producer. Hello, it's Robin Roberts here.

[Zach Adams]

Hey, guys, it's George Stephanopoulos here. Hey, everybody, it's Michael Strahan here.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Wake up with Good Morning America.

[Zach Adams]

Robin, George, Michael, gma, America's favorite number one morning show. The morning's first breaking news. Exclusive interviews, what everyone will be talking about that day. Put some good in your morning and start your day with GMA.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Good Morning America.

[Zach Adams]

Put the good in your morning. GMA 7A on ABC.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Hey, I'm Brad Milke. I'm the host of the Crime Scene Weekly, a new show from ABC Audio about the latest headlines in true crime. This week, we're talking about the massive prison break that shocked Louisiana in recent weeks. How did these inmates escape and was it an inside job? Listen now on Apple, Spotify, Amazon, or wherever you get your podcasts.