Holly Bobo Kidnapping and Murder

Holly Bobo was a 20-year-old nursing student at the University of Tennessee at Martin who was abducted from outside her family's home in Parsons, Decatur County, Tennessee, on the morning of April 13, 2011. [Her kidnapping and murder became the largest criminal investigation in Tennessee history, spanning more than three years before arrests were made](https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41366543).

On the morning of April 13, 2011, Holly's brother, Clint Bobo, witnessed a man in camouflage leading Holly into the woods behind their rural home at approximately 7:30 AM. Clint initially believed the man was Holly's boyfriend and did not immediately intervene. When he noticed blood on the garage floor, he called his mother, Karen Bobo, who then called 911. A massive search was launched involving the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation, the FBI, and hundreds of volunteers.

The investigation stretched on for years with few public developments. In early 2014, a major break came when a tip led investigators to Zachary Adams, a local man with a criminal history. Adams was arrested on February 5, 2014, and charged with especially aggravated kidnapping. His brother John Dylan Adams and friend Jason Autry were subsequently arrested as co-defendants.

[In September 2014, hunters discovered Holly Bobo's skull and other remains in a wooded area of Decatur County, approximately 10 miles from the Bobo home](https://apnews.com/article/holly-bobo-remains-found-tennessee). The remains were identified through dental records. The medical examiner determined the cause of death was a gunshot wound to the head.

[Zachary Adams's trial took place in Savannah, Tennessee, in September 2017. The prosecution's key witness was Jason Autry, who testified under a plea agreement and provided a detailed account of the kidnapping and murder — describing how they abducted Holly, sexually assaulted her, shot and killed her, and disposed of the body in remote woods](https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/22/us/holly-bobo-murder-trial-verdict/index.html).

[On September 22, 2017, the jury convicted Zachary Adams of felony first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated rape. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years without the possibility of parole](https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/true-crime/wp/2017/09/27/holly-bobo-murder-zachary-adams-sentenced/).

Zachary Adams was arrested on February 5, 2014, and charged with especially aggravated kidnapping, first-degree felony murder, and aggravated rape. His trial was moved to Hardin County (Savannah, Tennessee) on a change of venue. [On September 22, 2017, a jury convicted Adams on all counts. He was sentenced to life in prison plus 50 years without parole](https://www.cnn.com/2017/09/22/us/holly-bobo-murder-trial-verdict/index.html). [Jason Autry cooperated with the prosecution and testified against Adams under a plea agreement. Autry pleaded guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to 25 years](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2017/sep/22/holly-bobo-murder-verdict-zachary-adams-tennessee). John Dylan Adams pleaded guilty to facilitation of first-degree murder and received a 35-year sentence. A fourth suspect, Shayne Austin, died by suicide before charges were formally filed.