SAVANNAH Tenn (Sept. 20, 2017) – The defense for Zach Adams rested its case after two days of testimony.  Today’s witnesses included: a former U.S. Marshal, cell phone technology expert, computer forensic expert, and a bail bondsperson.

Jennifer Thompson, Adams’ attorney, gave the jury several alternatives to the prosecutions’ theory that the Adams brothers, along with Shayne Austin, and Jason Autry are responsible for the abduction and murder of Holly Bobo.

For two days the defense offered witness testimony and evidence to demonstrate their assertion that the state could not prove the most expensive case in state history and needed someone to charge.

And to give the jurors an alternative Thompson called witnesses to cast convicted sex offender Terry Britt as the possible murder.

Terry Dicus former TBI agent, testified Tuesday he believed that Terry Britt was responsible for Bobo’s abduction. Dicus was taken off the investigation as the lead agent after his supervisors said he had tunnel vision and ignored directives to drop Britt as a suspect.

Wednesday U.S. Marshal John Walker testified about an interview he had with Britt in jail at the request of Agent Dicus.

Walker told that some in law enforcement involved in the case, including Dicus, believed Britt was responsible for Bobo’s abduction.

Walker said he went to jail to meet with Britt. He told him he was there to ask if he wanted to talk about the location of Holly’s remains. “I told him, ‘I was sent over here by Agent Dicus to see if you wanted to work out some kind of a deal for where Holly’s remains are.’”

The former Marshal gave Britt a full narrative of the facts known. Walker said Britt responded, ‘It sounds like you’ve got it all figured out’,”  Walker said he was surprised when Britt agreed to admit his role in Holly’s death in exchange for a plea deal. Walker said he needed something more than a confession, he needed the location of Holly’s body

On cross-examination prosecutor, Jennifer Nichols said all of this came before law enforcement learned of the multiple alleged admissions by Adams before remains were discovered. Walker told Britt that agents would come to see him and take his statement but learned agents never followed through.

TBI special agent James Garnett was called for the defense. Garnett testified about the results of his forensic search of Terry Britt’s computer.  Garnett said the history showed a series of searches from Terry Britt that included multiple pornographic sites with searches like “abduction,” “rape,” and “kidnapped.”

The next witness called by the defense was Jonathan Reeves. Reeves is a cell phone and signal expert.

Reeves analyzed the cell phones of Holly Bobo, Zach Adams, Jason Autry, and Shayne Austin.
Reeves compared side by side data between Bobo’s phone and each of the defendants.  Reeves said the first time Holly’s phone indicated that she was away from home was at 8:17 a.m. voicemail came in.

• 8:25 a.m Holly’s phone location moves away while Zach Adams’ phone did not move.
• 8:57 a.m, Adams’ phone is closer to Holly’s phone but did not appear to be in the same location.
• At 9:06 a.m, a phone call to Holly’s phone went unanswered.
• 9:10 a.m, both phones had activity that showed them in the same area (they were in the same sector of the same cell phone tower).
• Reeves said Holly’s phone began at home, traveled in one direction, and then ultimately made a loop before moving south. Adam’s phone showed movement before ultimately going back to his home sector.

Reeves concluded that Holly Bobo and Zach Adams phones could not be at the same place during this time. Based on cell phone records, Reeves said based on the data Holly Bobo’s phone and Zach Adams’ phone were not in the same place at the same time.

Bail bondsperson Kristie Gutgsell testified about Zach Adams’ appearance after he had been arrested in Natchez Trace Park.  Gutgsell said after the arrest Zach had multiple scratches on his arms.  This was prior to the disappearance of Bobo.

Dana Bobo, father of Holly Bobo, and former TBI Special Agent-in-Charge for the Criminal Investigation Division Jack Van Hooser were the last two witnesses called for rebuttal testimony to the defense case.

Bobo testified to seeing the burn barrel on Shayne Austin’s property.  He also saw a black truck.

Van Hooser was a rebuttal witness to Dicus.  He described TBI agent Dicus as an agent who’d gone off the rails. Dicus was taken off the Bobo investigation in 2013 and later left the agency.

The court will reconvene today for closing arguments and then jury deliberation.

KEITH SHERLEY
TWITTER: @keithsherley
EMAIL: Keith@wnws.com