Holly Lynn Bobo (October 12, 1990 – c. April 13, 2011) was a 20-year-old nursing student at the University of Tennessee at Martin's Parsons Center. On the morning of April 13, 2011, she was last seen alive by her brother, Clint, walking into the woods near the family's home in Darden, Tennessee, with a man dressed in camouflage. Bobo had spoken to her boyfriend by phone earlier that morning, and a neighbor reported hearing a scream from the Bobo residence around the time of her disappearance. Cell phone location data showed her phone moving north away from her home and eventually stopping near Interstate 40, in the area where her remains were later found.
Discovery of Remains and Cause of Death
In September 2014, ginseng hunters discovered partial human remains, including a skull with a bullet wound, in a wooded area of northern Decatur County, Tennessee, nearly 20 miles from the Bobo home. The remains were identified as Holly Bobo's, and her death was ruled a homicide caused by a gunshot to the back of the head.
Investigation and Arrests
Early investigative attention focused on a registered sex offender, Terry Britt, who matched the physical description given by Clint Bobo, though Britt was never charged. In 2014, six men were arrested in connection with the case following an initial confession from John Dylan Adams, who has an intellectual disability. Adams told police he had seen Bobo at his brother Zach Adams's home with Zach and a friend, Jason Autry, after her abduction. Zach Adams, Dylan Adams, and Autry were charged with especially aggravated kidnapping, first-degree murder, and rape. Two additional men, Jeffrey and Mark Pearcy, were charged with accessory after the fact and evidence tampering, but those charges were later dropped. A sixth man, initially offered immunity for cooperation, died by suicide in 2015 without being charged.
Trial and Outcomes
Zach Adams went to trial in September 2017. The prosecution's case relied heavily on the testimony of Jason Autry, who described disposing of Bobo's body with Adams and witnessing Adams shoot her when she was found to still be alive. On September 22, 2017, a jury found Zach Adams guilty on all charges; he was sentenced to life in prison plus consecutive terms for kidnapping and rape. In January 2018, Dylan Adams entered an Alford plea to facilitation of first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping and was sentenced to 35 years. Autry, who had agreed to testify against Zach Adams in exchange for a reduced sentence, was released in September 2020 after his sentence was reduced to time served. He subsequently recanted his trial testimony, stating he had gained access to discovery material that allowed him to align his account with the evidence. In January 2024, Adams filed a petition seeking to have his conviction overturned based on this recantation.
Criticism of Prosecution
The case was marked by extensive criticism of the prosecution, including missed discovery deadlines, shifting charges against defendants, and a public dispute between the district attorney and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation over alleged mishandling of evidence.
Bobo disappears from her family's home in Darden, Tennessee, last seen walking into the woods with a man in camouflage.
2014-03
First arrests are made in the case, including Zach Adams, Dylan Adams, and Jason Autry.
2014-07
Jeffrey and Mark Pearcy are arrested and charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence; charges are later dropped.
2014-09
Ginseng hunters discover Holly Bobo's partial remains in northern Decatur County, Tennessee.
2014-12-17
Judge Creed McGinley criticizes prosecutors for delays and failure to turn over evidence to the defense.
2015-02
Shayne Austin, a suspect who had been offered immunity, is found dead of suicide in Florida.
2017-09-22
A jury finds Zach Adams guilty on all charges, including first-degree murder.
2017-09-23
Zach Adams is sentenced to life imprisonment plus consecutive terms for kidnapping and rape.
2018-01-18
John Dylan Adams enters an Alford plea and is sentenced to 35 years.
2020-09-16
Jason Autry is released from Riverbend Maximum Security Institution after his sentence is reduced to time served.
2024-01
John Dylan Adams files a petition to overturn his conviction based on Autry's recantation.
Best coverage
Titles and descriptions are the creators’ own and may not reflect current legal status; see the dossier above for sourced case facts.
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People
Holly Bobo
VICTIM
20-year-old nursing student who disappeared from her family's home on April 13, 2011; her remains were found in 2014 and her death ruled a homicide.
Jeffrey Pearcy
CHARGED
Charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence; charges later dropped.
Jason Autry
CONVICTED
Pleaded to a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against Zach Adams; released in 2020 after time served and later recanted his testimony.
John Dylan Adams
CONVICTED
Entered an Alford plea in January 2018 to facilitation of first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping; sentenced to 35 years. Filed a 2024 petition to overturn the conviction.
Mark Pearcy
CHARGED
Charged with accessory after the fact and tampering with evidence; charges later dropped.
Zach Adams
CONVICTED
Convicted in September 2017 of first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated rape; sentenced to life plus 50 years.
Roles reflect public records and court outcomes at the time of writing — supporting citations are on file under Sources.
Holly Bobo, a 20-year-old nursing student, disappeared from her family's home in Darden, Tennessee, on April 13, 2011, after being seen walking into nearby woods with a man in camouflage. Her partial remains were found in 2014, and her death was ruled a homicide by gunshot. Zach Adams was convicted of first-degree murder, kidnapping, and rape in 2017; his brother Dylan Adams pleaded guilty via an Alford plea in 2018; and Jason Autry, who testified against Zach Adams, was released in 2020 after a reduced sentence and later recanted his testimony.
Where did the murder happen?
Darden, Tennessee, United States.
Who was convicted?
Jason Autry (Pleaded to a reduced sentence in exchange for testimony against Zach Adams; released in 2020 after time served and later recanted his testimony.), John Dylan Adams (Entered an Alford plea in January 2018 to facilitation of first-degree murder and especially aggravated kidnapping; sentenced to 35 years. Filed a 2024 petition to overturn the conviction.), and Zach Adams (Convicted in September 2017 of first-degree murder, especially aggravated kidnapping, and aggravated rape; sentenced to life plus 50 years.).
