Summary of "What Happened to Holly Bobo? – The Appeal"

Podcast Information

• Title: What Happened to Holly Bobo?
• Host/Author: ABC News
• Episode: The Appeal
• Release Date: June 10, 2025

Introduction

In "The Appeal," the sixth episode of the gripping true-crime series "What Happened to Holly Bobo?" hosted by ABC News senior national correspondent Eva Pilgrim, the focus shifts to the ongoing legal battle surrounding Zach Adams, the man convicted of the abduction, rape, and murder of Holly Bobo nearly fifteen years ago. This episode delves deep into Zach's attempts to overturn his conviction, the introduction of new evidence, and the intricate dynamics of the Tennessee legal system.

Interview with Zach Adams

Eva Pilgrim recounts her team's investigative journey in April 2024 when they reached out for an unprecedented interview with Zach Adams, who had never spoken publicly since his conviction seven years prior.

• Unexpected Call Beginning:
  • [00:58] Eva Pilgrim: "In April 2024, my producers and I were in Tennessee conducting interviews for a 2020 episode on the Holly Bobo case..."
  • [02:05] Narrator: "Hold and accept is what you want to do."
  • [02:20] Zach Adams: "Never knew. Never met her. Never involved in this. Absolutely not."

Zach adamantly denies any involvement in Holly's disappearance and murder, maintaining his innocence throughout the short interview.

• Zach's Denials:
  • [05:06] Zach Adams: "Never knew. Never met her. Absolutely not."
  • [05:32] 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."

Flaws in the Prosecution's Case

Zach points out significant inconsistencies and flaws in the case that led to his conviction, particularly focusing on witness testimonies and physical description mismatches.

• Mismatch in Physical Description:
  • [06:17] Eva Pilgrim: "What do you say to all those people who think you're guilty?"
  • [06:21] Zach Adams: "He said the person was, what, five foot, what, five foot nine, 200 pounds. Who kidnapped her then? It wasn't Jason. Audrey, he's 6 foot 6. Could have been me. I was 6 foot 3, 125 pounds."

Zach emphasizes that neither he, his brother Dylan, nor other suspects physically matched the description provided by Holly's brother, Clint.

• Incriminating Statements Mismatch:
  • [07:30] Narrator: "He said, I'll kill you like I did Holly Bobo."
  • [07:46] Eva Pilgrim: "During our phone call, I asked Zach about those incriminating witness statements. Did you say those things?"
  • [08:03] Zach Adams: "Things I should have said, but I never directly said I did this to Holly."

Introduction of New Evidence: Jason Autry’s Recantation

One of the pivotal moments in this episode is the introduction of a videotaped interview where Jason Autry, a key witness who previously testified against Zach, recants his earlier statements.

• Jason Autry’s Testimony:
  • [10:37] Eva Pilgrim: "The defense claimed that the video would, quote, exonerate and exculpate the defendant from any guilt in this case."
  • [16:22] Jason Autry: "Yes, that's true."

Katie Spirko, a neuropsychologist working for Zach's defense team, recorded Jason's recantation, asserting that his initial testimony was fabricated under duress.

• Defense Insights:
  • [13:39] Jason Autry: "I got you about a 95% chance. I spend rested time right away."
  • [14:11] Eva Pilgrim: "Katie Spirko provided 2020 with the recording. I want to know your whole experience. How did it get from you being arrested for this to you being on the stand and telling this crazy story?"

Jason details the pressure and manipulation he faced, suggesting his testimony was coerced in hopes of favorable treatment in his own legal troubles.

• Prosecutor’s Response:
  • [16:22] Eva Pilgrim: "We reached out to Jennifer Nichols, the prosecutor in the Zach Adams trial, about Jason Autry's allegation against her."
  • [17:35] Jason Autry: "I don't think there's really nothing to gain from it. I think it's all to lose, really."

Prosecutors argue that Jason's recantation is unreliable, emphasizing that his testimony was thoroughly examined during the trial.

Legal Proceedings and Hearing Challenges

In May 2025, Zach's defense team presented their case for a new trial in Hardin County, Tennessee, challenging the admissibility of the Jason Autry video and introducing new surveillance footage as evidence.

• Court Hearing Highlights:
  • [22:19] Eva Pilgrim: "In May of 2025, Zach Adams defense team tried once again to get a new trial."
  • [25:07] Eva Pilgrim: "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."

The defense attempted to use the video as admissible evidence, but the judge ruled it as hearsay, dismissing it from the trial.

• Judge’s Ruling:
  • [24:28] Narrator: "It couldn't be further from the truth."
  • [25:12] Judge: "You're an unsworn statement and predominantly self-serving."

Despite this setback, the defense introduced surveillance footage from the day of Holly's abduction, suggesting Zach's and his brother's alibi contradicted Jason's earlier statements.

• Surveillance Footage Argument:
  • [26:00] Eva Pilgrim: "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."

However, prosecutors countered that the footage did not conclusively place Zach at the scene of the crime.

Dylan Adams’ Testimony

A significant emotional turn in the hearing was when Dylan Adams, Zach's brother, took the stand to support Zach's alibi by confirming their whereabouts during the critical time.

• Dylan's Alibi:
  • [29:02] Dylan Adams: "Yes, sir. It could be me."
  • [29:06] 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."

Dylan later confessed to lying during his initial interrogations, a revelation that shocked the courtroom and further complicated the case.

• Confession to Lying:
  • [37:35] Dylan Adams: "No, they were not true."
  • [38:34] Dylan Adams: "I wish I did."

Dylan’s emotional testimony underscored the possible miscarriage of justice, highlighting systemic issues within the investigation and interrogation processes.

Prosecutors’ Counterarguments

Prosecutors maintained their stance, arguing that the new evidence presented by the defense was insufficient to overturn the original conviction.

• Prosecutor’s Defense of Original Case:
  • [27:22] 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."
  • [28:39] Eva Pilgrim: "The judge ruled that the Jason Autry video was hearsay and that the exception to the rule did not apply."

They emphasized that the prosecution’s case was robust, built on multiple testimonies and extensive evidence beyond just Jason Autry’s statements.

Current Status and Ongoing Battle

As of the episode's release, Zach Adams remains incarcerated, with his defense team's appeals process pending further judicial review.

• Uncertain Resolution:
  • [34:04] Eva Pilgrim: "The judge looked at the prosecutor..."
  • [35:36] Eva Pilgrim: "The prosecutor did not press him on the photo he says was of him at the BP gas station."

The judge placed the hearing on an extended recess pending the appeal's decision, leaving the outcome uncertain and prolonging the quest for justice in Holly Bobo’s case.

• Final Remarks:
  • [40:23] Eva Pilgrim: "The Holly Bobo case is one of the most convoluted, complicated crimes I've ever covered..."
  • [41:57] Zach Adams: "Over 10 years, there's not one day that hadn't went by that you don't think..."

Conclusion

"The Appeal" encapsulates the labyrinthine struggle within the Tennessee legal system to reassess a high-profile conviction, intertwining personal testimonies, legal maneuvers, and the relentless pursuit of truth by those affected. Eva Pilgrim poignantly underscores the human cost of unresolved justice, leaving listeners pondering the true fate of Holly Bobo and the integrity of the judicial process.

Notable Quotes

• "Never knew. Never met her. Absolutely not."
  — Zach Adams [02:20]

• "He said the person was, what, five foot, what, five foot nine, 200 pounds. Who kidnapped her then?"
  — Zach Adams [06:21]

• "If I did, I would have already told anything I knew."
  — Zach Adams [05:24]

• "It's a publicity stunt."
  — Prosecutor Amy Weinrich [24:28]

• "Why are you in there?"
  — Zach Adams [42:20]

Further Production Credits

• Producers: Camille Peterson, Julia Nutter, Kiara Powell, Nora Hanna, Meg Fierro
• Supervising Producer: Susie Liu
• Music and Mixing: Evan Viola
• Director of Podcast Programming: Josh Cohan
• Executive Producer: Laura Mayer

Special Thanks To: Liz Alessi, Janice Johnston, Michelle Margulaz, Sean Dooley, Christina Corbin, Kieran McGurl, Andrew Paparella, Emma Pisha

Related Content

Stay tuned for more true-crime insights by listening to other episodes of "What Happened to Holly Bobo?" and check out "Crime Scene Weekly," a new show from ABC Audio hosted by Brad Milke, exploring the latest headlines in true crime.

Final Note

Despite the extensive investigation and multiple appeals, the true circumstances surrounding Holly Bobo's tragic demise remain elusive. The case continues to evoke strong emotions and deep questions about justice, truth, and the human spirit's resilience.