SAVANNAH, Tenn (Sept, 21, 2017) – On the tenth day of the Zachary Adams trial for the murder of Holly Bobo the two sides delivered their closing arguments. Each side took about two hours to address the jury before turning the case over for deliberation. Zachary Adams. Adams is charged with the abduction, rape and slaying of Holly Bobo, who was 20 when she was reported missing in Parsons on April 13, 2011.
State Prosecutor Jennifer Nicols lead off her closing argument with a photo of Holly Bobo. The prosecution emphasized the eyewitness testimony of co-defendant Jason Autry who said he was with Adams to dump the body in the Tennessee River. Bobo’s body was wrapped in a multi-color farm blanket and Autry said he never looked at her. According to Autry when he was moving her body he saw her foot move and told Adams she was still alive. Autry says that is when Adams shot her. “People don’t just disappear without a trace. Do they? Holly didn’t. Holly spilled her precious blood on the carport behind the house.”said Nicols in one of several emotional appeals to jurors. The state called other witnesses who testified that Adams talked about Bobo and what happened. Nichols told the jury, “You take as long as you need, and you come back out here with the right verdict.”. Prosecutor Paul Hagerman told the jurors “”Six years later, in two weeks in this room with that man that killed there daughter, it’s time to do what’s right.”
Attorney Jennifer Thompson delivered defense closing arguments.  Thompson said the state case against her client is “absolutely full of holes” and based on “non-evidence.”, Thompson focused on the fact that investigators found no DNA evidence, fingerprints, hair, fiber, connecting Adams to Bobo. Instead, prosecutors relied on statements from Adams’ friends and jail inmates.
Defense GPS witnesses testified that Zach Adams and Holly Bobo’s phone never moved together. Terry Dicus, former TBI agent who was in charge of the case until 2013, said he did not believe Adams was involved in Bobo’s abduction. John Walker, a US Marshal, testified that Terry Britt, a convicted sex offender, talked with him about giving a confession in exchange for a deal. Jennifer Thompson said Autry was selling a tall tale and added, “Jason Autry is no shrinking violet. He absolutely was in control of the courtroom.”
The jury was given the case around 3:00 p.m. and deliberated for about 3 ½ hours before stopping for the day. Jury deliberations will continue until a verdict. The jury is made up equally of men and women.
KEITH SHERLEY
TWITTER: @keithsherley
EMAIL: [email protected]
