Fourteen Days

Summary

What Happened to Holly Bobo?

Episode: Fourteen Days
Host: Eva Pilgrim, ABC News
Release Date: June 3, 2025

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Introduction to the Case

Nearly fifteen years ago, Holly Bobo, a young nursing student, vanished from her rural Tennessee home, sparking one of the state's most significant and enduring criminal investigations. The case took a dramatic turn when Holly's remains were discovered a few years later, not far from where she had disappeared. As the investigation unfolded, it became entangled in a complex web of legal battles and questionable testimonies, particularly involving key witness Jason Autry. This episode, titled "Fourteen Days," delves deep into the courtroom drama that defined the case and examines lingering questions about Holly's tragic fate.

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Preparing for Trial

In January 2017, defense attorney Jennifer Thompson was meticulously preparing for the trial of her client, Zach Adams, who faced charges of kidnapping, rape, and first-degree murder of Holly Bobo. The defense grappled with a significant development: [00:30] Thompson revisited "hundreds of pages" in the case files, particularly focusing on a confession from Zach’s brother, Dylan Adams. This confession implicated Zach and others in Holly's abduction and murder.

Jennifer Thompson (00:30):
"Jason has been talking to prosecutors and that he's gonna be testifying against Zach at trial."

Jason Autry's sudden change of testimony after six years of denial posed a substantial challenge for the defense. Thompson had only eight months to reassess her strategy in light of Autry's new allegations.

Jennifer Thompson (02:35):
"I needed more time to prepare in this case. I never felt that I was ready. And especially after Jason Autry had changed his whole story."

---

The Trial Begins

On September 9, 2017, the trial of Zach Adams commenced in Hardin County's courthouse, moving from Decatur County to ensure jury impartiality due to the case's high profile.

Judge C. Creed McGinley (03:45):
"Hardin County, Tennessee, is now in session pursuant to adjournment, the Honorable C. Creed McGinley presiding."

The courtroom, described as a "stately southern building" with ornate wood paneling and chandeliers, became the stage for a prolonged legal battle. Zach Adams, appearing noticeably changed with added weight and graying hair, entered the courtroom in a suit lent by Jennifer Thompson.

Zach Adams (04:25):
"Not guilty of all charges."

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Opening Statements

Prosecution's Approach

Prosecutor Paul Hagerman delivered a compelling and repetitive opening statement to underscore the severity of the charges against Zach Adams.

Paul Hagerman (06:22):
"He took her. He raped her. He killed her. He discarded. He covered it up. He bragged about it. And he almost got away with it."

Hagerman emphasized the brutality of the crime and outlined the progression of the investigation, mentioning early leads and focusing on the four main suspects: Zach Adams, Dylan Adams, Shane Austin, and Jason Autry.

Defense's Strategy

Jennifer Thompson countered by highlighting the exhaustive nature of the investigation and the lack of physical evidence linking Zach to the crime.

Jennifer Thompson (09:36):
"They had nothing. They had a great big goose egg. They paid all this money, and they had absolutely nothing to show for it."

She detailed the extensive searches of Zach's and his grandfather Dick Adams' homes, noting the absence of DNA, fingerprints, or any forensic evidence tying Zach to Holly's disappearance and murder.

Jennifer Thompson (11:59):
"All the evidence will show that Zach Adams is not guilty."

---

Prosecution's Case

Testimonies from the Bobo Family

The prosecution called Dana, Karen, and Clint Bobo to the stand. Karen Bobo's emotional testimony about the morning Holly disappeared was particularly poignant.

Karen Bobo (12:44):
"Yes, ma'am."

During her examination, Karen struggled to maintain composure, ultimately suffering a panic attack that momentarily halted proceedings.

Judge McGinley (13:40):
"Let's let jury go ahead and file out."

Jason Autry's Testimony

Jason Autry's testimony was a pivotal moment in the trial. Describing the events of April 13, 2011, Autry claimed to witness Holly's kidnapping and subsequent murder.

Jason Autry (22:13):
"I need you to help me bury this body."

He detailed how Zach Adams allegedly directed him to bury Holly under a bridge, leading to her tragic death.

Jason Autry (24:24):
"And I have lots of remorse over that."
"At that time, I walked to the front of the truck. I told Zach, I said, 'She's still alive.'"

Autry's vivid recounting captivated the courtroom but faced intense scrutiny during cross-examination by Jennifer Thompson, who questioned his credibility and consistency.

Jennifer Thompson (26:40):
"You said, no, sir, right hand before God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I did not bother that girl in no form or no fashion. Didn't you?"

---

Defense's Challenge

Thompson meticulously dismantled Autry's testimony by highlighting discrepancies and potential motives for his false statements. She emphasized that Autry was seeking leniency in his own sentencing, casting doubt on his reliability.

Jennifer Thompson (27:43):
"Are you familiar with the fact that if you testify in a beneficial way to the state that they could make a request that your federal sentence be reduced?"

Autry maintained that his testimony was genuine, despite his admission of remorse over his involvement.

Jason Autry (28:27):
"I have immunity with the federal government. Other than that, there's no deal, plain and simple."

---

Additional Evidence and Witnesses

The prosecution presented various pieces of evidence, including a .32 caliber revolver purportedly linked to Zach Adams' associate Shane Austin. Both the prosecution and defense introduced cell phone experts to debate the mobility data, with conflicting interpretations regarding Zach's whereabouts during Holly's disappearance.

Prosecution Expert (30:56):
"It's possible Holly and Zach Adams' phones were in the same general locations later that morning."

Defense Expert (30:57):
"I disagree."

Additionally, convicted sex offender Terry Britt testified, vehemently denying involvement and expressing hostility towards the investigation.

Terry Britt (31:28):
"No, I didn't. I didn't know a girl. Never seen her in my life, that I know of."

---

The Verdict

After a grueling fourteen-day trial filled with emotional testimonies and intricate legal maneuvers, the jury deliberated for eleven hours over two days before reaching a unanimous verdict.

Judge McGinley (35:17):
"You checked guilty of first degree premeditated murder of Pollyanne Bobo. Is that correct, sir?"

Zach Adams was found guilty on all charges. Subsequently, instead of a death sentence, a plea agreement was reached granting him life imprisonment without parole plus an additional 50 years.

Jennifer Thompson (36:58):
"We just cannot help but be just heartbrokenly disappointed in the verdict in this case."

---

Sentencing and Aftermath

Before sentencing, Karen Bobo delivered a heartfelt victim impact statement, expressing her enduring grief and the family's struggle to find joy after Holly's loss.

Karen Bobo (39:02):
"Every day since this has happened, have we not woken up with Holly being the first thing on our mind when we wake up and the last thing on our mind when we go to sleep."

In the years following the trial, additional legal proceedings involved Zach's younger brother, Dylan Adams, who entered an Alford plea and received a 35-year sentence. Jason Autry eventually pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit murder and facilitation of aggravated kidnapping, leading to his release with credit for time served.

---

Renewed Scrutiny and Unanswered Questions

In 2024, the case resurfaced when Jason Autry, shortly after his release, was arrested on federal firearms charges. While awaiting sentencing, Autry altered his testimony once more, reigniting debates about the integrity of his earlier statements and the true circumstances surrounding Holly Bobo's death.

Jason Autry (43:09):
"Absolutely not."

This development left the Bobo family and the community grappling with lingering doubts about the case's closure and provided a haunting reminder of the unresolved questions that still surround Holly Bobo's untimely death.

---

Conclusion

The Holly Bobo case remains a deeply emotional and complex story within Tennessee's history, marked by courtroom drama, shifting testimonies, and enduring questions about justice and truth. "Fourteen Days" offers a comprehensive exploration of the trial that sought to bring closure to a family haunted by loss while highlighting the intricate dynamics of the legal system in high-profile cases.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Jennifer Thompson (00:30):
  "Jason has been talking to prosecutors and that he's gonna be testifying against Zach at trial."

• Paul Hagerman (06:22):
  "He took her. He raped her. He killed her. He discarded. He covered it up. He bragged about it. And he almost got away with it."

• Karen Bobo (12:44):
  "Yes, ma'am."

• Jason Autry (22:13):
  "I need you to help me bury this body."

• Jennifer Thompson (26:40):
  "You said, no, sir, right hand before God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I did not bother that girl in no form or no fashion. Didn't you?"

• Jennifer Thompson (27:43):
  "Are you familiar with the fact that if you testify in a beneficial way to the state that they could make a request that your federal sentence be reduced?"

• Judge McGinley (35:17):
  "You checked guilty of first degree premeditated murder of Pollyanne Bobo. Is that correct, sir?"

• Karen Bobo (39:02):
  "Every day since this has happened, have we not woken up with Holly being the first thing on our mind when we wake up and the last thing on our mind when we go to sleep."

---

This detailed summary encapsulates the critical elements of the "Fourteen Days" episode, providing a comprehensive overview for listeners and non-listeners alike.

Transcript

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[Eva Pilgrim]

In January 2017, defense attorney Jennifer Thompson was preparing for the trial of her client, Zach Adams. She was pouring over the hundreds of pages of material in the Holly Bobo case file and grappling with the confession of Zach's brother, Dylan. Dylan's confession had been a big breakthrough for prosecutors. Here was Zach's own brother saying that the four men who made up what law enforcement called the a train each played a role in Holly Bobo's kidnapping, rape and murder. Zach and Dylan Adams and Jason Autry had been indicted in the case. Shane Austin died by suicide in 2015 and was never charged. Each of the three men who were charged would be tried to separately. Zach Adams had pleaded not guilty and was going to be the first to stand trial. If Zach was convicted, he could face the death penalty. While Jennifer Thompson was deep in her preparation for the highly publicized case, she got a call from Jason Autry's attorney. ABC News spoke to her about it in 2024, and he informs us that.

[Jennifer Thompson]

Jason has been talking to prosecutors and that he's gonna be testifying against Zach at trial.

[Eva Pilgrim]

After nearly six years of denying he had anything to do with Holly's kidnapping and murder, Jason Autrey had completely changed his story. It was a shocking reversal. And now Jennifer Thompson had to figure out how to handle Jason Autry's testimony. She had about eight months to do that. To go back through those hundreds and hundreds of pages in the case file and review them again. Thinking about Jason Autry's new version of.

[Jennifer Thompson]

Events, I needed more time to prepare in this case. I never felt that I was ready. And especially after Jason Autry had changed his whole story.

[Eva Pilgrim]

On September 9, 2017, Zach Adams trial began. In this episode, I'm going to take you into the courtroom where almost six years after Holly's abduction, the Holly Bobo case was about to enter its next chapter. I'm ABC News senior national correspondent Eva Pilgrim from ABC Audio. In 2020, this is what happen happened to Holly Bobo. Episode 514 days after Holly Bobo disappeared on April 13, 2011, Decatur county became the center of a national story. But in September 2017. The jury did not file into the Decatur County Courthouse Circuit Court.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

Hardin County, Tennessee, is now in session pursuant to adjournment, the Honorable C. Creed McGinley presiding.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Instead, they took their seats in the courthouse of Hardin county, about an hour south. The courthouse is a stately southern building. It's brick, with four big white columns framing its entrance. Inside the courtroom, there's ornate wood paneling and rows of chandeliers that have such a warm glow, they almost look like candlelight. The judge explained why everyone was gathered in Hardin County.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

It would be extremely difficult and I thought impossible to draw the jury from Decatur Camp.

[Eva Pilgrim]

People in Decatur county had followed the ins and outs of the search and the investigation. Many had even participated in the search or shared leads with authorities. And people knew the Bobo family. They knew Zach Adams. They just knew too much for the judge to believe they could be impartial. Once the jury was seated, the judge had a prosecutor read through the long indictment against Zach Adams, with charges of kidnapping, rape and first degree murder. Zack sat next to his attorney, listening. He had gained weight since his arrest, and his once thin, almost gaunt face looked much fuller. His dark hair had streaks of gray in it and was parted neatly to the side. He was wearing a gray suit and a blue tie. It didn't fit him very well because, well, it wasn't his suit. His defense attorney, Jennifer Thompson, found out he didn't have any formal clothes to wear to the trial, so she lent him her husband's suit. When the prosecutor was done reading the indictment, the judge turned to Zack and asked how he was pleading. Zack stood up and said one of the only things he would say during the entire trial. Not guilty of all charges. All right. And from there, the judge ordered the trial, a trial that the community had waited years for. To begin, the prosecution gave their opening statement. First, Paul Hagerman spoke in a very soft, quiet voice, almost a whisper, and kept his message simple.

[Paul Hagerman]

He took her. He raped her. He killed her. He discarded.

[Jason Autry]

He covered it up.

[Paul Hagerman]

He bragged about.

[Eva Pilgrim]

It.

[Paul Hagerman]

And he almost got away with it.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Hagerman kept repeating those three sentences about what Zach was accused of. It became almost like a chant, a steady drumbeat, driving home just how horrific the case was.

[Paul Hagerman]

He took her. He raped her. He killed her.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Hagerman emphasized the contrast between Holly, safe in the home she grew up in, and Zach, who Hagerman said lived in the world of method than morphine and.

[Paul Hagerman]

The dark, dark things that went along with it. That was his life.

[Eva Pilgrim]

And then Hagerman outlined how the twists and turns of the investigation brought everyone to the courtroom. Hearing a case against Zach Adams, he mentioned how investigators looked into convicted sex offender Terry Britt and cleared him when they did not find evidence tying him to Holly's kidnapping, rape, and murder. Hagerman explained that investigators then circled back to four names that had been early leads in the investigation. Zach Adams, Dylan Adams, Shane Austin, and Jason Autry. Hagerman teased the account of their star witness, Jason Autry.

[Paul Hagerman]

When Jason got there, there's Shane, Zach and Dylan.

[Eva Pilgrim]

And then try to explain why there was no physical evidence that Zach Adams had murdered Holly.

[Paul Hagerman]

He had a year and a half, two year head start. You can understand why he was so confident that he'd never get called. No DNA. He didn't leave fingerprints behind crime scenes.

[Narrator]

Long, long, long, long gone.

[Paul Hagerman]

He scattered evidence. He destroyed evidence. But we hear now.

[Eva Pilgrim]

After Hagerman's opening statement, he sat down. Zach's lawyer, Jennifer Thompson, got up and walked across the courtroom to the jury box. If Hagerman leaned into the dramatic, emotional details of the case, Thompson tried to give the jury more context. So members of the jury, she described how sprawling the investigation into Holly's death was and how much information there was to sort through.

[Jennifer Thompson]

It's almost just like trying to drink from a fire hydrant, all the information they got.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Thompson talked about how many people were interviewed by investigators in the case and ticked through some of the people they focused on as potential suspects. She said this was the most expensive and exhaustive investigation in the history of the state of Tennessee, but that heading into 2013, investigators didn't have anybody they could point to as the culprit.

[Jennifer Thompson]

They had nothing. They had a great big goose egg. They paid all this money, and they had absolutely nothing to show for it. And the citizens of Decatur county, the family of Holly Bobo and the public at large all wanted answers to how such a crime could happen, how the police could be involved right away. And still, after all the resources and all the information they had, they could have absolutely nobody charged by that point.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Thompson also said prosecutors had a terrible problem. They did not have physical evidence tying Zach Adams to Holly Bobo. Investigators had searched Zach's house and the nearby house of his grandpa, Dick Adams.

[Jennifer Thompson]

They went through Zach Adams house, and they took over 500 items out of that house. They took all the material off of all the mattresses. They took giant chunks of carpeting out of that house. They took whole pieces of furniture, upholstered chairs, leather couches, all kinds of ottomans and pillows and blankets and shelving. They cut A hole in the floor. Floor that's as big as a car. They searched through Dick Adams house. They seized four cars from the Adams family and went through all the cars after they finished going through that whole house. There's no DNA that matches Holly to the house. There are no fingerprints that match Holly to the house or to the cars. There's no hair from Holly that matches Holly to Mr. Adams house.

[Eva Pilgrim]

She closed with a straightforward declaration.

[Jennifer Thompson]

All the evidence will show that Zach Adams is not guilty.

[Eva Pilgrim]

After opening statements, the prosecution called their first witnesses. Dana, Karen, and Clint Bobo. Karen Bobo's testimony encapsulated all the emotions that had built up for years around the case. Prosecutor Jennifer Nichols asked Karen about the details of the morning Holly disappeared, like what Holly was wearing and their last interactions. And then she had Karen unzip Holly's lunch bag, the one that had been found during the search. Is that her lunch?

[Karen Bobo]

Yes, ma' am.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Next, the prosecutor had Karen identify Holly's purse, her keys, her wallet. Karen sounded like she was holding back tears, and eventually she turned to the judge and said. Everyone in the courtroom stood up to see what was going on. The judge stood up, too, to maintain order. Karen had fallen to the floor. She was sobbing and had trouble catching her breath.

[Jennifer Thompson]

Got a nurse.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

Let's let jury go ahead and file out.

[Jennifer Thompson]

Come here.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

Get some lights. Lights. CL yourself.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Come here, Karen. Come here, baby.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

Everyone else, remain with me, please.

[Eva Pilgrim]

I can't breathe. The judge said Karen suffered a panic attack that required medical attention. The defense was worried that Karen's distress would make it impossible for the jury to listen to her testimony objectively and asked for a new jury to be called. The judge did not agree. Once Karen had recovered, he asked the jury to come back in and ordered the trial to continue. After Karen Bobo's testimony, Clint Bobo was called to testify. He gave the account that had been so central to the investigation, describing what he had heard and seen as Holly was kidnapped and what the man who took her looked like and sounded like. 5, 10, 200 pounds, dark hair, gravelly voice. In the next couple of days, the prosecution called a range of other witnesses. A forensic pathologist testified that Holley was shot in the back of the head, likely at close range and likely by a.32 caliber bullet. The defense challenged this by asking the pathologist about some unknown variables in his analysis, like how far away the person who shot Holly was from her and whether the bullet fractured before hitting her. In response, the pathologist said it was true that because of those factors, he could not know for certain the size of the bullet that killed Holly. Zach's ex girlfriend also took the stand. She had previously verified Zach's alibi, telling authorities that she was at his house the morning of Holly's kidnapping and he was sleeping. But she testified that she wasn't sure what he did that morning. She also testified that when she saw him the next day, he had scratches on his neck that she hadn't seen before. She said she did not ask Zach about them. When defense attorney Jennifer Thompson cross examined her, she asked whether her statements in the case had changed over time. Zach's ex girlfriend said yes and later admitted that she had previously told investigators she believed the scratches on Zach were from being chased by a police officer through the woods in an unrelated incident. Overall, a total of nine witnesses, including Zach's ex girlfriend, testified that over the years, Zach, often while on drugs or in jail, made incriminating statements. By the prosecutor's count, at least 10 were shared in court. They include statements like, I couldn't have picked a prettier. It sure was fun. If he doesn't keep his mouth shut, I'm going to plant him next to that and I'll kill you like I did Holly Bobo. One person testified that Zach asked if God would ever forgive him. The first few days of the trial were all building towards the testimony of Jason Autry. He was about to take the stand and share what he claimed was an eyewitness account of Holly's murder.

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[Eva Pilgrim]

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[Eva Pilgrim]

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[Eva Pilgrim]

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[Narrator]

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[Jennifer Thompson]

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[Eva Pilgrim]

Jason Autry entered the Hardin county courthouse wearing a white prison jumpsuit. He was now 44 and had gray hair, a gray beard and reading glasses with him. He was charged with the murder, kidnapping and rape of Holly Bobo. Jason's time on the stand would go on for nearly six years hours. The weather had been warm during the whole trial, but on that particular day it was hot. The high reached the mid-80s. The courtroom did not have air conditioning and as it got hotter and hotter, people were sweating and fanning themselves, trying to cool off. Most of Jason's testimony detailed everything he says he witnessed. On April 13, 2011, prosecutor Jennifer Nichols put Jason on the stand. Zach's defense attorney, Jennifer Thompson, cross examined him. Jason said the morning of April 13th he wanted to buy morphine, so he called Shane Austin and Zach Adams. After 8am Zach called him back and said he needed Jason's help and he told Jason to meet him at Shane Austin's house. Jason said he assumed Zach needed help cooking meth.

[Narrator]

I pulled into the driveway, I got out. Dylan was standing in the doorway with his shirt off. Shane was walking around saying, y' all need to hurry up and get the goddamn hell out of here. And holstered on his side was a firearm.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Jason said he bought a morphine pill, got high, and then Zach told him.

[Narrator]

And he said, I need you to help me bury this body.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Jason said Zach told him it was Holly Bobo's body.

[Narrator]

The body was laying in a multicolored farm style blanket. It looked like multiple colors wrapped in the blanket, laying up against the back.

[Eva Pilgrim]

From the moment you figured out that.

[Jennifer Thompson]

He wanted help with Holly versus help.

[Eva Pilgrim]

With the batch of meth, were you willing?

[Narrator]

Yes, I was.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Jason testified that Zack drove the two of them to a spot under a bridge on the Tennessee river not far from a boat marina and backed his truck up to a pile of rocks. Jason said he and Zach then took Holly's body out of the car and put her on the rock pile.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

I see the foot move, a movement.

[Narrator]

And a sound of distress come from the blanket. At that time, I walked without the passenger side door of the pickup, and Mr. Adams was digging in a fanny pack. I told him, I said, this still alive.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Jason spoke slowly, but he moved a lot on the stand. He made big hand gestures and even tried to act out the scenes he was describing. The courtroom was captivated.

[Narrator]

I walked to the front of the truck. I told Jack, I said, she's heard my name called and heard me talking. And all at that time, he wheels around, walks back to the driver's side pickup. Out of the front pickup, he pulls a pistol, the same pistol that was holstered on Mr. Austin's side. And I said, whoa.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Jason said he went to serve as lookout so Zach could shoot her.

[Narrator]

And I told him there was nothing coming close as clear, something to that. To that effect. And at that time.

[Karen Bobo]

Boom.

[Narrator]

The gun sound. Gun went out, and it sound like, boom, boom, boom. Underneath that bridge. 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, just all up under that bridge.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Jason testified it was silent at first, but then they heard a boat coming down the river, panicked and put Holly back in the car. Jason said Zach dropped him off at his car and then the two didn't meet again until the afternoon. He said Zach later told him that he, his brother and Shane Austin had kidnapped and raped Holly and that Zach had disposed of her body. Jason Autrey's hours on the stand were full of colorful, shocking details. When Jennifer Thompson cross examined Jason, she questioned his credibility. She asked him about his past statements, denying he had anything to do with Holly's kidnapping and murder.

[Jennifer Thompson]

You said, no, sir, right hand before God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost. I did not bother that girl in no form or no fashion. Didn't you?

[Narrator]

And that's a fact.

[Jennifer Thompson]

And you were asked, do you know who did? You said, no, sir, that's a lie. But didn't you say that.

[Narrator]

That's correct.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Thompson pointed out that at the time Autry says the murder happened, he was on phone calls with his girlfriend and also his mother.

[Jennifer Thompson]

In the middle of all this, you were able to take a telephone call from your mother, Shirley King, that morning at 9:42, weren't you?

[Narrator]

If your records reflect that, that's true.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Thompson also asked Jason if he was benefiting from testifying, possibly getting a reduction in his sentence for a federal gun charge.

[Jennifer Thompson]

Are you familiar with the fact that if you testify in a beneficial way to the state that they could make a request that your federal sentence be reduced?

[Narrator]

I don't know. You'd have to ask my attorney that.

[Jennifer Thompson]

So you're testifying here today. You're telling the jury today that you have absolutely no knowledge that what you do here might affect the federal Senate, that you have to serve of 100 months.

[Narrator]

I have immunity with the federal government. Other than that, there's no deal, plain and simple.

[Jennifer Thompson]

Right. But there's a potential deal. It remains out there.

[Narrator]

You're saying that, not me.

[Eva Pilgrim]

She also emphasized that if Zach was guilty, Jason was not some innocent bystander.

[Jennifer Thompson]

When you thought that she had heard your name, you knew Zach Adams, according to your story, was getting ready to shoot her. You never said, stop, don't do it, did you?

[Narrator]

That's correct.

[Jennifer Thompson]

You said, wait a minute, let me make sure nobody's coming.

[Narrator]

That's correct.

[Jennifer Thompson]

So you did something to help him kill her, according to your story, didn't you?

[Narrator]

I did. And I have lots of remorse over that.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Jason's time on the stand went into the evening hours, and when the cross examination was over, the judge dismissed everyone for the day. The prosecution's star witness had spoken. But there were still many days of testimony left. Key pieces of the investigation came up and key names testified to try to answer a big question in the case. Prosecutors showed the jury the alleged murder weapon, a.32 caliber revolver that witnesses claimed was owned by Zach Adams friend Shane Austin. It was recovered in A drainage ditch. Just months before the trial, the prosecution and defense each called a cell phone expert to explain what the troves of phone data did and did not show. Both experts agreed that Adams and the other suspects phones did not hit cell towers near the Bobo home at the time Holly was taken. The prosecution expert said it was possible Holly and Zach Adams phones were in the same general locations later that morning. But the defense expert disagreed. The prosecution also called to the stand convicted sex offender Terry Britt, who was in prison for kidnapping and attempted rape. Prosecutor Jennifer Nichols tried once and for all to show he was not the man behind Holly's kidnapping and murder. Remember, Terry Britt said he had an alibi. And the investigation into him did not find evidence linking him to Holly. Did you kidnap, rape, murder Holly Bobo?

[Narrator]

No, I didn't.

[Eva Pilgrim]

I didn't know a girl. Never seen her in my life, that I know of. Terry Britt was asked about the thorough investigation into his life, including the wiretapping of his home. And how former TBI agent Terry Dykus wanted to pursue him as a suspect. His testimony got quite heated. But Dykins was so fixated on me, I guess he. I don't know. Do you know whether Dykins is still a TBA agent?

[Narrator]

No.

[Eva Pilgrim]

He's lost his job. I wish he'd get on food. I wish he'd get on food stamps.

[Jennifer Thompson]

I object, you, Honor. To me saying he lost his job, that's not.

[Narrator]

He almost destroyed my life.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Terry Britt left the stand not a free man, but never charged in the Holly Bobo case. There are always lots of law enforcement witnesses during a criminal trial. But there was something unusual about this trial. Six current and former law enforcement witnesses were called by the defense, not the prosecution. One of those six witnesses, Terry Dykus, the former TBI agent Britt criticized on the stand, testified just after Britt. Jennifer Thompson asked Dikus why he was so focused on Terry Britt during his time on the investigation.

[Jason Autry]

Have a seat.

[Eva Pilgrim]

It'll be a while.

[Jason Autry]

Terry Britt is a registered sex offender. A violent sex offender. He lives northern Decatur County. He has black hair, he weighs 200 pounds and he's six foot tall. He is the exact size of what our witness said the abductor looked like.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Dykus said no one in the so called a train matched Clint Bobo's description of Holly's abductor. On cross examination, prosecutor Paul Hagerman asked Dycus about that conclusion and whether Shane Austin could have fit the description.

[Paul Hagerman]

If Clint Bobo testified the same body shape and everything as Shane Austin. That's surprise.

[Jason Autry]

Well, Clint's a very honest young man. I would. If he says that, I believe him. But you're forgetting part of it.

[Paul Hagerman]

Go ahead.

[Jason Autry]

Cause the body type also goes with the hair. And Shane Austin had reddish blondish hair. And Flint said he had black hair. Shoulder length black hair.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Hagerman reminded the jury that Dykus had been removed from the case because of what his supervisor called his lack of objectivity and his tunnel vision on one suspect, Terry Britt, who was eventually cleared by TBI of having anything to do with Holly's kidnapping and murder. Dikus admitted on the stand that he did not know what evidence investigators gathered against Zach Adams and the others after he was removed from the case.

[Paul Hagerman]

Your testimony has been almost a trip into the past, into the first. The first two or three years of this investigation. But you can't tell us anything about the three and four years after that.

[Jason Autry]

You're right. I don't know what y' all have done since then.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Aside from Jason Autry's testimony, there were no big surprises. No smoking guns. But the prosecution argued they had presented all the evidence they needed to show Zach Adams was Holly's killer. And neither the defendant, Zach Adams, nor his younger brother, Dylan Adams, ended up taking the stand. The trial lasted 14 days and included dozens of witnesses and hundreds of exhibits. When both sides rested their cases, the jury went off to deliberate. It took them 11 hours over two days to reach a verdict.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

If you like what the jury does, that's fine. Keep it to yourself. This isn't a time to cheer like we do for a football team or something. If you don't like what the jury said, keep that to yourself.

[Eva Pilgrim]

For each count, the judge read the jury's verdict.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

You checked guilty of first degree prison, premeditated murder of Pollyanne Bobo. Is that correct, sir?

[Eva Pilgrim]

And then, one by one, confirmed it with each juror.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

Number one, is that your verdict?

[Jennifer Thompson]

Yes.

[Judge C. Creed McGinley]

Number two. Yes.

[Eva Pilgrim]

There was no big reveal like in TV shows or movies. No booming announcement like guilty of all charges. Instead, the verdict arrived one bit at a time over the course of around five minutes. And by the end of those five minutes, everyone in the courtroom knew that Zach Adams had been found guilty of all charges. Zach stayed still and stoic as the verdict was slowly announced. Jennifer Thompson had told him that was his best bet.

[Jennifer Thompson]

Because I reminded him this jury's going to decide tomorrow whether he lives or dies. And that it was really important that he be quiet and respectful. I could tell he was trembling and he Went white. But I think he took it like a champ sitting there and gave the reaction I had hoped for him.

[Eva Pilgrim]

She gave a press conference after the.

[Jennifer Thompson]

Verdict that we just cannot help but be just heartbrokenly disappointed in the verdict in this case. We knew going in it was going to be very hard case to win because you have this beautiful young woman who had been taken from her home. And those facts balanced against my client, who had had a tough, kind of a tough background. He had been involved in drugs. He'd been a drug addict. I'm concerned that the jury might go for death.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Mark Gwinn, the head of TBI at the time, also commented. I just think it's a good day for justice in the state of Tennessee. I hate that it took six and a half years to bring it, but at the end of the day, it's about justice being served. So thank you. The Bobo family told us in 2017 they believe Zach Adams is responsible for their daughter's murder and that Jason Autry's testimony rang true to them. Before the sentencing hearing, the prosecution and defense came to an agreement. Instead of putting the death penalty on the table for the jury to decide, Zach was would get life in prison without the possibility of parole, plus another 50 years. The Bobo family had agreed to this ahead of time, and in court, the judge asked Zach if he had consented to the agreement freely and voluntarily, and he said yes. So the judge signed off on it, too, and then brought the jury in to explain that they would not need to spend the day weighing whether Zach Adams should get the death penalty. But he didn't dismiss them yet. Part of the sentencing agreement was that Karen Bobo would still deliver her prepared victim impact statement, even though the sentence had already been decided. So she took the stand and looked at the jury as she spoke.

[Karen Bobo]

I've had to watch my parents. And there was supposed to be called golden years. Me so sad. Every day. Not a morning since this has happened, have we not woken up with Holly being the first thing on our mind when we wake up and the last thing on our mind when we go to sleep. Last night, I saw my husband smile for the first time in six and a half years. Is there something that you want to say to Zachary? First, I. First of all, I would like for you to know that this decision that was made this morning had absolutely nothing to do with that animal. It had to do with the future of our family. If there can ever be any more joy in our family to maybe give us an opportunity to find at least a little Joy.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Karen turned away from the jury and towards where Zach Adams was sitting. She had taught Zach in the fourth grade and she sounded a bit like a teacher as she addressed him.

[Karen Bobo]

But I would like for Mr. Adams to look at me when I speak to him. I know that my daughter fought and fought hard for her life. Can you back up just a little bit so he can look at me? And I know that she. She begged for her life because my daughter loved and enjoyed life. But you chose to take that from her. And you have shown absolutely. Look at me, please. You have shown absolutely no remorse for anything that you have done.

[Eva Pilgrim]

When Karen Bobo left the stand, the judge thanked the jury and dismissed them. Zach Adams case was over, but two more people were still waiting for their day in court. In the months to come, Zach's younger brother, Dylan Adams, entered an Alford plea to facilitating murder and especially aggravated kidnapping, which means he acknowledged there was evidence against him but maintained his innocence. He received a 35 year prison sentence. And years later, Jason Autry pleaded guilty to solicitation to commit murder and facilitation of especially aggravated kidnapping. And with credit for time served, he was set free. The case was finally over. But in 2024, more than a decade after Holly was kidnapped and murdered, seven years after Zach Adams guilty verdict, it was put back in the spotlight. Just months after being released from prison in the Holly Bobo case, Jason Autry was arrested on federal firearms charges. He pleaded guilty. And while in jail waiting for his sentencing, he changed his story about the day Holly was kidnapped and murdered again.

[Narrator]

That's the worst that I've ever felt in my life, coming back knowing that you just lied for the innocent man in prison.

[Eva Pilgrim]

And Zach Adams, who had chosen not to testify during his trial, was ready to talk. Did you kill Holly Bobo?

[Narrator]

Absolutely not.

[Eva Pilgrim]

That's on the next and final episode of what Happened to Holly Bobo? 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 Hanna and Meg Fierro, with help from Audrey Mostek and Amira Williams. Our supervising producer is Susie Liu. Music and mixing by Evan Viola. Special thanks to Liz Alessi, Janice Johnston, Michelle Margulaz, Sean Dooley, Christina Corbin, Karen McGurl, Andrew Paparella and Emma Pischa. Josh Cohan is our director of podcast programming. Laura Mayer is our executive producer. Hello, it's Robin Roberts here. Hey, guys, it's George Stephanopoulos here. Hey, everybody, it's Michael Strahan here. Wake up with Good Morning America.

[Commercial Voice]

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.

[Commercial Voice]

Put the good in your morning. GMA 7A on ABC. Atsuko Kotsuko and her new original hilarious stand up special.

[Eva Pilgrim]

Your daytime friends can't meet your nighttime friends because then they'll know you're a liar.

[Commercial Voice]

Father is coming to Hulu and Hulu on Disney + June 13.

[Eva Pilgrim]

I asked my husband the other day how to turn on the washing machine, and that's how he realized that he had been doing the laundry all these years.

[Commercial Voice]

Father Streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney + June 13th.